Bush Taps Skeptic of Buildup as ‘War Czar’
Lt. Gen. Lute Accepts Position Others SpurnedPresident Bush tapped Army Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute yesterday to serve as a new White House “war czar” overseeing the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, choosing a low-key soldier who privately expressed skepticism about sending more troops to Iraq during last winter’s strategy review.
In the newly created position, Lute will coordinate often disjointed military and civilian operations and manage the Washington side of the same troop increase he resisted before Bush announced the plan in January. Bush hopes an empowered aide working in the White House and answering directly to him will be able to cut through bureaucracy that has hindered efforts in Iraq.
I don’t know. This seems like just another layer of bureaucracy. Plus, this Lt. Gen. Lute’s war experience is in the Gulf War of 1991. That was a very different war than the one our guys are fighting now.
It concerns me that Lute is talking about political solutions and concerns about the perception of ‘occupation’ created by having Westerners in the Middle East. That sounds to me like he’s more concerned with the Iraqis than he is our Soldiers.
I’m still looking for someone who is concerned for the American military men and women. I’m tired of people willing to put the word of our enemy before the word of our Soldiers. I’m also tired of our Soldiers being put in harms way without the full backing of the American military.
Other people are commenting on this new appointment ….
Jules Crittenden
As usual, unfortunately, the Bush administration comes up with a bright idea too late and too light. The three-star designated to oversee operations and give orders to the Pentagon and State Department must first be confirmed before, as ABC puts it, he can “assume the position.â€Â
I expressed dubiousness about the whole idea of a war czar when it was first floated and the appointment of a 3-star who is currently running operations for the Joint Staff doesn’t win me over.
Hot Air says the WaPo article unfairly leads to the impression that was against the surge by quoting only part of a two-year old quote.
Captain’s Quarters says this is a strange organizational chart and someone is going to have to explain how it’s going to work. He goes on to give a good, well thought out plausible reason for creating this new layer of bureaucracy.
I agree with you on the additional layer of beaucracy. When will it ever end? And like you, I am ready for someone to put our soldiers ahead of what is happening over there.
I am not sure if we are even doing any good. I was having this conversation with a friend last night. She sold her car to a gentleman from Iraq (he has lived in the States for over 19 years). He was recently in Iraq and told her about the brainwashing going on. He had a three year old boy walk up to him to tell him about the war in the name of Allah. Point being, I don’t see this war going away. It has grown into a huge festering sore.