from the Washington Post:
The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, but it has had trouble finding anyone able and willing to take the job, according to people close to the situation.At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have declined to be considered for the position, the sources said, underscoring the administration's difficulty in enlisting its top recruits to join the team after five years of warfare that have taxed the United States and its military.
OK, it may just be me, but it seems that the real problem isn't that they can't find someone to the job. the problem is that they feel the need to have such a "Czar" in the first place. Think about it. we have 2 wars, so to speak, and evidently this is too much for the President, the Sec. of Defense, and the joint chiefs of staff? I'm sorry, but if we could manage WW1 and WW2 without a "Czar",but we cannot do the same now...? Well then, the Administration is simply finding new depths to its incompetence.
4 comments:
Isn't part of the problem that a Czar of the type they are looking for will over shadow the power of the pentagon, the joint-chiefs, and the state department? I mean, there is a clear hierarchy of authority which is not, itself, causing the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Having a new position that overseas all these groups will effectively eliminate the distinction between them.
Perhaps there is an argument to be made solidifying these groups but surely those who are there now will be resistant.
perhaps that could be the argument that it will solidify the groups, but to me the question of competence (NOTE: i like the new Sec of Def. a LOT more) is not addressed with or without the czar. i'm not convinced the newly created position will develop better strategies or tactics. maybe i'd like the idea better if i had more faith in this administration. it seems to me like they're spinning our wheels until they can hand it off to the next president.
they're just looking for someone to pin the blame on.
i've been thinking about this. maybe it is a good idea if they have to go around a current failing structure that cannot be removed. i'm just not sure that sorta foresight is believable with the keystone cops of foreign policy.
Post a Comment