No Takers For Bush "War Czar"

The Skinny: Top Generals Not Interested In Becoming Overseer Of U.S. War Efforts

(CBS)  The Skinny is Joel Roberts' take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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The Bush administration is seeking a "war czar" to oversee the U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. But so far, the Washington Post reports, it's having a hard time finding anyone willing to take the job.

At least three retired four-star generals, the Post says, have been approached by the White House, but all declined to be considered for the high-powered position, highlighting the administration's problems in convincing "top recruits to join the team after five years of warfare that have taxed the United States and its military."

One of those who spurned the job, retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, was outspoken about his reasons for turning it down.

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said Sheehan, a former top NATO commander. Sheehan said he believes that hawks like Vice President Cheney have more influence in the White House than those looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks.' "

Sources said the others contacted by the White House were Army Gen. Jack Keane and retired Air Force Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, who both said they were not interested.

The idea for creating the new position follows concern over longstanding disputes between civilian and military officials in Iraq. The war czar would have the authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, State Department and other agencies.

Panel Revises Voter Fraud Findings

A federal panel apparently altered its conclusions on the prevalence of voter fraud to more closely reflect a position championed by Republicans, according to a report in Wednesday's New York Times.

The panel, the Election Assistance Commission, issued a report to the public which said there is "a great deal of debate on the pervasiveness of fraud." But the original version of the report, which was obtained by the Times, said that most experts felt there was "little polling place fraud."

Republicans have long claimed that voter fraud is widespread and have used this argument to justify voter ID requirements that have become law in at least two dozen states. Democrats, on the other hand, say voter fraud is rare and oppose the voter ID laws, which they say primarily target minorities, the poor and the elderly -- who are less likely to have the proper IDs, and tend to vote Democratic.

The Times says the same election panel also came under fire two weeks ago for refusing to release another report on voter ID laws. That report, which was finally released after pressure from Congress, found that voter ID laws designed to fight fraud "can reduce turnout, particularly among members of minorities."

The issue of voter fraud has come up recently in the investigation of the Bush administration's firings of eight U.S. Attorneys, several of whom, critics charge, were dismissed for failing to aggressively pursue voter fraud cases.

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[frankly6]

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said Sheehan, a former top NATO commander. Sheehan said he believes that hawks like Vice President Cheney have more influence in the White House than those looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks.' "

[adventurepa]

Sounds like the kids game of "Hot Potato".

[bluestardad]

I am sure Israel will give him someone from their short list! They got us into Iraq!

Even Eisenhower had problems with Israeli groups but he did not let them buy him!

READ AS THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT!
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm


Founded in 1953 by Isaiah L. "Si" Kenen, AIPAC's original name was the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. According to UCLA political science professor and author, Steven Spiegel, "the tension between the Eisenhower administration and Israeli supporters was so acute that there were rumors that the administration would investigate the American Zionist Council. Therefore, an independent lobbying committee was formed, which years later was renamed [AIPAC]." [SPIEGEL, p. 52].[citation needed] Today, AIPAC has over 100,000 members.[1]
Activities and stated goals
AIPAC's stated purpose is to lobby the Congress of the United States on issues and legislation "to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong so that both countries can work together" to meet the challenges of "stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, fighting terrorism and achieving peace".[2] It regularly meets with members of Congress and holds events where it can share its views. AIPAC has been effective in gaining support for Israel among members of Congress and White House administrations.
The New York Times described AIPAC on July 6, 1987 as "a major force in shaping United States policy in the Middle East."

[tuckerndfw]

The "war czar" goes by the title "Commander in Chief" and since Bush no longer wants to be "war czar," he should resign.

I've never seen a more corrupt and incompetent administration in my life. Adding another layer of bureaucracy would do nothing to reduce or eliminate the corruption and incompetence in the Bush administration. Which starts with Bush & Cheney.

Bush & Cheney should be impeached before they cause permanent damage to the US.

[bluestardad]

HEY BUSH HERE IS YOUR WAR CZAR! MIKE NIFONG HE HAS JUST YOUR CHARACTER AND SHOULD FIT RIGHT IN WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATION!

Nifong has a position waiting for him in the Bush administration.

When he heard about Nifong's corruption and incompetence, Bush remarked, "He's my kind of guy."

Bush is going to nominate Nifong to be Gonzo's replacement as attorney general of the US.
Posted by tuckerndfw


A Hoe in the hand is worth 2 in the BUSH?....LOL
Posted by pussylib at 10:26 AM : Apr 11, 2007

[king77shaw]

I just heard that the job is going to Harriet Myers !!

[rafterman1]

"Not only the closest President to Hitler, but he surpassed him long ago in corruption, greed, and dishonestly."

Well, no, Bush isn't Hitler. Persnally, I think the Hitler and Nazi comparisons are thrown around too much lately. It seems that anyone who disagrees with someone's viewpoint is a "Hitler" these days. But I do think Bush is the most un-American president we've ever had and is bordering on incompetent.

[iceman_1960]

No Takers For Bush "War Czar"

Rats swim away from a sinking ship, not toward it.

[iceman_1960]

No one wants the job ?

Don Imus has some free time now.

[bigsk8fan]

McCain thinks things are pretty safe in Iraq now. So he probably doesn't think the jobs is necessary. But it would look good on his presidential resume.

[frankly6]

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said Sheehan, a former top NATO commander. Sheehan said he believes that hawks like Vice President Cheney have more influence in the White House than those looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks.' "

[gkc99]

Oh, yes, blame the Jews, as usual.

The fact is that it was Christians who got us into Iraq, like Dickless Cheney, George W. Bushit, and the rest of the WASPs. And it's the born again Christians who support Bushit. Israel provides these Christians with useful cover, as many in the US support Israel's right to exist (unlike some of the anti-semites who hide as leftwingers). If it suited their purposes, the neocons would drop Israel in a heartbeat.

Rather, look to the oil companies and the Texas mafia to place the blame. Or look in the mirror.

[rafterman1]

Funny how when in service, theese retired senior officers back the president (as they are required to do and should do) but the second they are back in civvy life and free to talk, very few are backing the admininstration. That's because most military men see the poor tactical and strategic position we are in the longer we stay in Iraq. They are not just cheerleaders with a bunch of slogans, they see the bad situation from an expert viewpoint. Maybe some of you Bush koolaiders should take heed of their advice and experience.

[iceman_1960]

"So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks.' " General Jack Sheehan

He must have been thinking of the sh***y treatment given to retired Army General Jay Garner, an outstanding individual who was coerced into taking the job of Director of Iraqi Reconstruction, and was then forced out and replaced by the thoroughly incompetent Paul Bremer.

[iceman_1960]

"Success has many parents, but failure is an orphan."

Nobody wants to drive this Edsel.

[iceman_1960]

The logical choice for "war czar" is someone with actual war experience.

Someone like Marine Colonel Jack Murtha.

That choice would also be seen as reaching out to Democrats in a true spirit of bipartisanship.

[rafterman1]

"Oh, yes, blame the Jews, as usual."

Unfortunately, this is a habit throughout history. And not all leftwingers trash the Jews. Some of us understand that they are a small nation surrounded by enemies (and put in that situation not entirely by their own choice, namely the UN partition) and that sometimes drastic steps are needed to survive.

But that does not mean that Israel is immune from criticism. They have some necessary policies and some really bad ones. It is not antisemitic to strongly disagee with Israeli policy if you thnk they are doing wrong, just as it is not un-American to disagree with American policy, like Iraq.

[bluestardad]

gkc99; If you are right I appologize but I have pretty substantial prof other wise. I dont mind supporting Israel but not contrary to Americas interest as is being done now!

[bluestardad]

Bush should pick Mike Nifong for War Czar, he has the Character to fit right in with the Bush Administration.

[wayfedup]

This sounds like a job for Donald Rumsfeld!
He's ALREADY PROVEN himself to be COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT, JUST LIKE HIS BOSS!(BUSH)

[inventagod]

Um, that position has been poorly filled already.
It would be called 'the president'...

Guess Bu$h is ready to step down???

[ckcool192000]

If retired generals of the US military doesn't want the job of overseeing the forces in the middle east, shouldn't that tell Bush something about what the citizens of this country feel about this "war"?

Wake up and smell the coffee Bush, no one wants to be responsible for this war of which you lied to the american citizens about the reason to go to war.

Where are all the diehard republicans now? Where are all the Bush supporters that he had a couple of years ago when he was re-elected? I guess now they are running for the "bushes". I would hide too if I had once supported the Bush dictatorship.

[homespunlady]

Isn't that kind of appointment something Congress needs to be told about. Oh, I forgot, Bush thinks Congress is irrelevant!

I enjoy inane humor but this idea is one for the political cartoonists to have a field day on.

I'd like to suggest he hold a CONTEST. Anyone that wants the job can meet him in downtown Baghdad in on April 28th to walk around freely as McCain says can be done and save the Impeach Bush Rally people the trouble.

Now, who's up to nominate a volunteer for the position.

[clestes-2009]

This should come as no surprise to the whitehouse.

[inventagod]

I am amazed Bu$h didn't 'appoint' his buddy Brownie to the position while Congress took their vacation...

[frankly6]

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said Sheehan, a former top NATO commander. Sheehan said he believes that hawks like Vice President Cheney have more influence in the White House than those looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks.' "


This is just a blatant and public statement of what we all have been knowing for sometime now. We have been led into a disasterous and unnecessary war by a group of arrogant incompetents who don't have a clue and don't want one.

[nordeck52]

War czar, huh? This title sounds a bit too imperialistic to me. The imperial presidency that has existed since Word War II is gaining ground again. What's the next step, the American Empire? I sincerely hope not, but then, I'm beginning to wonder lately.

[lochlan-2009]

Nobody wants it because they know when the Dems take control all the free tax payer money is going to be gone.

[ne_patriot7]

War Czar.?? This administration is sounding more like a street gang every day with its warlords. What a step backwards to pre WWII when we had a Secretary of War.

Besides this farce, our esteemed "Intelligence Czar" and "War on Drugs Czar" aren't doing jack sh*t except costing the taxpayer a hefty salary.
When a kid with "too much" marijuana can be arrested for "intent to sell" and put away for 20 years, while at the same time US Attorney Sutton lets go mexican drug smugglers bring in several hundred pounds of the same drug and instead prosecutes the border agents that confronted him, something is radically failing in our "justice" system..

Here's another story on the AP wire this morning:
"WASHINGTON %u2014 The struggle to entice Army soldiers and Marines to stay in the military, after four years of war in Iraq, has ballooned into a $1 billion campaign, with bonuses soaring nearly sixfold since 2003."

Looks like our "volunteer" army is being groomed to become our "mercenary army". I'm sure it's great for moral when the platoon sergeant gets 3 grand to re-up and the next week the cpl. under him gets 30 grand to re-up. Yea..

Bush has so f*cked up everything in this country, it is doubtful things can be fixed even over the next 8 administrations.

[harp1963]

"Men desire authority for its own sake that they may bear a rule, command and control other men, and live uncommanded and uncontrolled themselves" (St. Thomas More, A Dialogue of Comfort).

[antoniof123]

Some of your responses are just fantastic. What a way to run a war now he can not even get a general to go there what next? Maybe we could send all the cons over there and they could join in the fight in fact let them fight.

[macusweil]

Simply put- Bush just wants to abdicate and outsource his role as Commander in Chief. It's obvious he himself knows he's lame & incompetent, a complete failure.

[misha131]

War czar is probably a bad name. However; the concept of someone managing and coordinating day to day the various departments, State, Defense, Commerce (USAID), etc in the efforts supporting the troops on the ground including reconstruction (shared buy State, Defense and USAID), administration and other efforts is needed. Read the Special Inspector General's report on Iraq Reconstruction to understand the need for such an office.

[homespunlady]

On the voter fraud article there was quite a bit left out in this article from one I read earlier. There also were questions on why the report had to be "changed", if the changes were "political", why one of the 2 Democratic members LEFT the investigation and why the part of the investigation addressing VOTER MACHINE FRAUD WAS DELETED.

[passerby2]

"Someone needs to tell Steve Hadley that position is filled, it's the commander in chief, unless the decider's become the delegator," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.

[grazinggoat]

Why not Bush? Send him to Iraq. Hell, give him a rifle and let him finally fight that war he ran from in 1968.
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 12:18 PM : Apr 11, 2007

-So simple, yet so true!

[nyckate]

LOL - Isn't this kinda like the Captain of the Titanic asking for a replacement just after his ship has hit the iceberg??

What's Bush's selling point on the position - offer to personally share jail cells or something??

On the good news front perhaps alittle reality has sunk into Bush's Delusional World - now they/he know that pretty everyone distrusts them and not a sinner has faith in their competency!!

[macusweil]

"Read the Special Inspector General's report on Iraq Reconstruction to understand the need for such an office." Yeah it's called the Secretary of Defense.

[kpokey]

Isn't this the President's job? Commander in Chief, i.e. War Czar? What does this man do except screw up everything? I guess he is now outsourcing his own job!!!! What an idiot.

[neenga]

Webster's defines czar as, "an absolute ruler; a tyrant." Why would Bush want another one of those?

[grazinggoat]

Bush should send his wax-face DicckCheney vice-president, to run this war. Since war is considered in GOPs-Republican dictionary a business as usual, well Diccky may very well succeed.

I still doubt it though. Diccky is more successful at skrewing government laws and rules (regarding contracts attribution), than 'forcing' a population to accept a new way of life. This pop will always resist any change that is not supported by its roots.
Dicckey has to understand that, but too hasty to success, and he'll botch any job done by him.

[us_infidel]

I just read a poll buried on CBS' website showing only 40% of those surveyed approve of the job Congress is doing. Not too far off from Bush's ratings.

Guess they only think slightly higher of the dems in Congress. You're not getting the full story on this.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/09/ap/congress/main2666054.shtml

[mgpm-2009]

How about Newt Gingrich, D*ick Morris, and Bill O'Reilly? They always seem to have all the answers....send 'em over and let 'em rip. Sean Hannity as well...

[rharrin1]

But I do think Bush is the most un-American president we've ever had and is bordering on incompetent.
Posted by Rafterman1 at 10:50 AM : Apr 11, 2007

He passed that a long time ago, before he stole the oval office.

Just goes to prove you aren't qualified to be president if you have to steal the oval office.

[grazinggoat]

There is nobody to do the war job in USA!, so be it. Next thing you'll see, sub-contract it to Israelis.

How dumm can I be! said Walking-Liar, why haven't I thought of that before. Yes Israelis would be great at that, they just showed us how to break down a civilian infrastructure in Lebanon in July 2006. And hey, it's for them, after all, I'm doing all that invasion job...

Condi call Olmert for me please...

[rharrin1]

Why would Bush want another one of those?

Posted by neenga at 01:00 PM : Apr 11, 2007

He just wants a body to take the blame so he can point a finger at that person.

His finger pointing has been failing lately, because the mirror was pointing at himself.

[gkc99]

Well thanks bluestardad, I usually agree with most of what you write. Yes, Israeli foreign policy is fair game for criticism, but the idea that Israel is behind US policy is stretching it. Bushit uses Israel when it suits his ends; as soon as it failed to serve the needs of the corporate masters and the multinationals, they'd be happy to see it go. This war is being fought for profits of big corporations. Certainly some Jewish people are involved in those, although the management is probably mostly Episcopalian or Protestant, but their religion is money. Those are the people Bushit serves. To see why we're in Iraq, follow the money trail. This is the "new world order" running things.

[forthepeopl1]

it just go to show that bush and cheney are in need to get the lime light off of them..

and if congress changes anything about the troops comming home. you will see the biggest american coup in washington, it will take all of the army,navy, they have to stop us from takeing over congress and the white house.

[frankly6]

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said Sheehan, a former top NATO commander. Sheehan said he believes that hawks like Vice President Cheney have more influence in the White House than those looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks.' "

[forthepeopl1]

all four star generals said no way, thanks but no thanks.

i think the job should go to bush/cheney/rumsfeld they can share is job and it would get rid of them. because they would be killed anyway so lets give them the job..

let them live in the mess they made....