Banana Republic Generals
Dear editor:
Are our generals at it again? Is keeping a war and troops overseas a guarantee of job security and glory that doesn’t come from sitting comfortably in the Pentagon? Are they trying to change our country from civilian (elected) control to one controlled by the military? Why ask such outlandish questions? Just look at news reports that beg the possibility.
At present the United States has about 139,000 troops in Iraq. The Status of Forces Agreement signed just last year by then President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stated that U.S. combat forces would leave in 2011 and all American forces would leave by 2012. President Obama plans to bring U.S. combat forces home from Iraq in 2010, which fits his commitments and speeches during the campaign for the presidency. Mr. Obama planned to use the money saved from the Iraq War (huge) to help pay for the country’s recession. In February of this year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates reiterated the U.S. commitment to this agreement. Evidently our high ranking men with all the stars on their shoulders have different plans.
In April, General Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, stated that the decision on withdrawing American forces from Iraq’s major cities by the June 30, 2009 deadline will be made by Iraq Prime Minister, not by our duly elected American government. And now, Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, speaking at an invitation-only briefing to a dozen journalists and policy analysts from Washington think-tanks, says that the Pentagon is prepared to leave fighting forces in Iraq for as long as a decade despite an agreement between the United States and Iraq.
Isn’t it wonderful? These two high ranking generals have leap-frogged over the civilian control of the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States and offer their own international decisions for our military and the lives of our troops. When did we become a banana republic controlled by generals who think they know what is best for our country? And let’s not confuse the desire of our troops, who would rather be home, than with the glory boys who only sit safely behind the lines shining their stars and medals.
Are our generals at it again? Is keeping a war and troops overseas a guarantee of job security and glory that doesn’t come from sitting comfortably in the Pentagon? Are they trying to change our country from civilian (elected) control to one controlled by the military? Why ask such outlandish questions? Just look at news reports that beg the possibility.
At present the United States has about 139,000 troops in Iraq. The Status of Forces Agreement signed just last year by then President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stated that U.S. combat forces would leave in 2011 and all American forces would leave by 2012. President Obama plans to bring U.S. combat forces home from Iraq in 2010, which fits his commitments and speeches during the campaign for the presidency. Mr. Obama planned to use the money saved from the Iraq War (huge) to help pay for the country’s recession. In February of this year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates reiterated the U.S. commitment to this agreement. Evidently our high ranking men with all the stars on their shoulders have different plans.
In April, General Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, stated that the decision on withdrawing American forces from Iraq’s major cities by the June 30, 2009 deadline will be made by Iraq Prime Minister, not by our duly elected American government. And now, Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, speaking at an invitation-only briefing to a dozen journalists and policy analysts from Washington think-tanks, says that the Pentagon is prepared to leave fighting forces in Iraq for as long as a decade despite an agreement between the United States and Iraq.
Isn’t it wonderful? These two high ranking generals have leap-frogged over the civilian control of the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States and offer their own international decisions for our military and the lives of our troops. When did we become a banana republic controlled by generals who think they know what is best for our country? And let’s not confuse the desire of our troops, who would rather be home, than with the glory boys who only sit safely behind the lines shining their stars and medals.
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 2:07 PM
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