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A Military Tactician's Political Strategy

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How Petraeus won support in Congress and with public opinion, while at the same time changing the nature of the effort in Iraq. His struggles with General Fallon even though he reported directly to President Bush, who wished to disengage too quickly to make adifference in the failing effort to bring security. The first effort was to bring security with the surge in troops, then to build the Iraqi forces. To keep public opinion informed about tangible achievements of modest goals such as security for ordinary Iraqis, and fewer American casualties, rather than some beacon of democracy goal for the Middle East. A detailed account by the Washington Post of how this played out in the words of key players like Petraeus, Fallon, Ambassador Crocker and others, and what it may tell one about the lessons for another very different effort in a rural mountainous backward country like Afghanistan. One that emerges is to set modest goals like security, try new approaches but with a clear eye on the field, put in younger leaders who can bing flexibility and imagination and intellect, but disengage on favorable terms that achieves these modest objectives.

General Petraeus and the American effort in Iraq

02/09/2009

Grouped Articles

A Military Tactician's Political Strategy

Washington Post 02/09/2009

A new American effort in Afghanistan with Defense Secretary Gates' policy and General McChrystal in the field- 2009-2010

12/25/2008

The head of the Special Forces Operations Command for five years from 2003 to 2008 is now the new commander in Afghanistan. He is known for his hands on approach, intellect, relentless energy, and being always in the field, using networking and coordination to leverage his efforts. He comes from afamily of West Pointers, his father being a General in the second world war. Defense Secretary Gates who made the change putting General Petraeus in charge in Iraq to bring a younger officer with new ideas is now doing the same with replacing McKiernan and bringing in McChrystal. Gates is also bringing fresh thinking to the Defense Department and American defense policy.

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Pentagon Toils to Build a Bomber on a Budget

Wall Street Journal 11/04/2013

McChrystal article renews attention to split with Biden over Afghanistan

Washington Post 06/23/2010

Weakening, possible firing of McChrystal compounds sense of peril in Afghanistan

Washington Post 06/23/2010

Gates Faults Obama Over Afghanistan

Wall Street Journal 01/08/2014

Former Defense Secretary Gates Is Elected President of the Boy Scouts

New York Times 05/22/2014

Questions for General McChrystal

New York Times 06/01/2009


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