Thursday, June 14, 2007

20070614 The Democrats’ Flag Day Offensive

The Democrats’ Flag Day Offensive

June 14^th, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff

Senator Harry Reid and the Democratic leadership celebrate Flag Day - by attacking the military:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Calls Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace 'Incompetent'

Call it the “Flag Day offensive.”

Whispers in the hallway are that the Democrats will be launching an all out assault on the military this summer – opening-up a dreaded third theatre of conflict. In addition to Afghanistan and Iraq, the rear-guard action in Washington will be particularly challenging.

I call it the “Flag Day Offensive.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confirmed Thursday that he told liberal bloggers last week that he thinks outgoing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace is "incompetent."

[…]

"I believe that General Pace would not be if he had come forward to be reappointed the chairman of the Joints Chiefs. It wouldn't have happened and I'm not going to get into what I said or didn't say. There is a long list of people including Senators (Carl) Levin and (Jack) Reed and others who have talked about General Pace long before I did. I think we should just drop it. The fact is, he's not going to be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, for which I'm happy," Reid said.

Asked if Reid considered Petraeus competent, Reid responded, "Not as far as I'm concerned."

Reid ripped Petraeus for an interview published in Thursday's USA Today describing progress in Iraq.

My latest Tentacle column touches upon General Peter Pace “retiring.”

Wednesday, June 13, 2007, The Fragging of Gen. Peter Pace by Kevin E. Dayhoff:

“Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced last Friday that he will recommend Adm. Mike Mullen, the current chief of naval operations to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - and not Gen. Peter Pace…

[…]

By all accounts, Secretary Gates had all intentions for General Pace to serve another two-year term…

[…]

General Pace was nominated to be the vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2001 while he was serving as the commander of the U.S. Southern Command. He will - unfortunately - be the shortest-serving chairman since Gen. Maxwell Taylor stepped down in 1964 to become the U. S. ambassador to South Vietnam.

General Pace is a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. After his completion of The Basic School at Quantico in 1968, he was deployed to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, and 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam.

There he served as a rifle platoon leader, where he led Marines in what is arguably, some of the most dangerous urban combat in our military history at the Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive.

Please read the entire column: The Fragging of Gen. Peter Pace

Also see: 20070608 Gen. Pace: Throwing the Baby out with the Bath Water

Meanwhile:

Prior to Reid's remarks, White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters that he hoped what he had read about Reid is "not true, because in a time of war, for a leader of a party that says its supports the military, it seems outrageous to be issuing slanders toward the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and also the man that is responsible for the bulk of military operations in Iraq.

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For additional information:

The Fragging of Gen. Peter Pace

20070608 Gen. Pace: Throwing the Baby out with the Bath Water

Video: Gates Announces Choice for New Chairman

Biography of Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen

Biography of Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright

Gates Recommends Mullen to Replace Pace

Gen. Pace Terminated as Contentious Reconfirmation Hearing Loomed

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