What Happened To “I Will Listen To The Generals?”

Early in the stages of the Iraq ‘Surge,’ three retired liberal generals banded together in opposition to President Bush. Wesley Clark, John Batiste, and Paul Eaton put their heads together and issued a stern condemnation of President Bush with their “words of warning.”

Clark said, “The fact is, this president never listened to the soldiers on the ground. The problem is not just a military problem. It is a political problem and a diplomatic problem.”

Clark, if you recall, made a failed and pitiful attempt at a presidential run him self.

Batiste added, “[Bush] ignores sound military advice and surrounds himself with like-minded subordinates,” and “There was a time when we could have pulled this out. Quite frankly, it is time to call a spade a spade.”

Eaton said Bush was “incompetent” and his effort with the others “is an effort to render competence to an Administration that needs it.”

An ad released by the 3 had Batiste say, “Mr. President, you did not listen. You continue to pursue a failed strategy that is breaking our great Army and Marine Corps. I left the army in protest in order to speak out. Mr. President, you have placed our national in peril. Our only hope is that Congress will act now to protect our fighting men and women.”

I assume that last was a call for impeachment, as many tried to encourage congress to do.

It touched off a firestorm of calls from the left of “listen to the generals.”

As it turns out, Bush did listen to the Generals, the other Generals and the Iraq Surge was a huge success, but that did not stop the few opposed to Bush from receiving accolades from the left, even prompting candidate Barack Hussein Obama to criticize President Bush saying he did not listen to the Generals unless they agreed with him.

Of course, candidate Obama said he would listen to the Generals. So, why isn’t he?

Obama has repeatedly stated, “Afghanistan is a war we must win.”

Mid August General McChrystal submitted a report outlining the seriousness of the war in Afghanistan and requesting reinforcements. August and September have been two of the bloodiest months we’ve had what we see from Obama, when not stumping for a future Olympics game in Chicago or wining and dining Michelle for their anniversary, is nothing.

No answer, no strategies, no reinforcements, nothing!

What we do hear are words to the effect of “I want to think about it.”

What is there to think about? At a time our Troops are fighting and trying to gain the trust of the Afghani’s, dragging our feet is exactly what will prevent us from earning their trust.

Obama once in office told us, that he had instituted a new strategy in Afghanistan and fellow Democrats said in may, “that the Obama administration's new U.S. strategy is working in the war-scarred Afghanistan.”

Now, we see Obama seemingly irritated that General McChrystal has spoken out on the need for reinforcements and some claims that Obama desires to “muzzle” field commanders.

We even see Eugene Robinson, who never served a day in the Military, penning a column, Tell General He Should Put A Sock In It concluding, “Privately, Obama needs to hear McChrystal’s advice. Publicly, he needs to hear one simple phrase from the general, ‘Yes, Mr. President’.”

Robinson had no trouble conjuring up visions of Bush just ignoring General Petraeus, but says General McChrystal should just basically “shut-up and salute?”

National Security Adviser, Gen. Jim Jones (Ret.) downplays the seriousness of Afghanistan when he claims, “I don’t foresee the return of the Taliban. Afghanistan is not in imminent danger of falling.”

What about our Troops being in “imminent danger” of needlessly losing their lives because this administration drags its feet and is unsure of what to do? How many of our Brave Troops will die while Obama “considers” reinforcing them and ignores that Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and General Petraeus but agree with McChrystal’s assessment?

Oh wait, that’s right, they are but one of the people Obama must listen to, politicians who aren’t being told “put a sock in it” by the likes of Eugene Robinson and many of whom never served either.

That great strategist, V.P. Biden, who never served, expresses the desire to return to the failed policy of Clinton is simply launching missiles from afar or from drones into Pakistan to hit Al Qaeda.

Does it escape Biden that missiles launched in such a way produce massive collateral damage, such as civilian deaths? Haven’t we heard before that civilian deaths must be avoided at all costs?

And, firing over the border into Pakistan? Is Biden reluctant to escalate the war in Afghanistan, but willing to escalate it by dragging Pakistan in against us?

Why isn’t Eugene Robinson telling him to “put a sock in it?”

Obama’s “committee approach” to fighting this war is insanity. Dr. James Jay Carafano, a former Army lieutenant colonel says, “You don't fight wars by committee. Because now [Obama’s] turned this into a political debate, and you're going to end up with a sub-optimal outcome,” adding “Obama appears to be replaying all the worst decision making of McNamara and Johnson in Vietnam.”

Obama, Thomas Paine is credited with saying, “Lead, follow or get out of the way.”

A leader must make tough decisions and swiftly, then live with the consequences.

A leader doesn’t sit and wrong their hands about their popularity.

A leader leads and you sir, are not leading by allowing our people to languish in Afghanistan, wondering if they will life long enough to see reinforcements.

Playing the race card will not work against terrorists, Obama, it only guilt trips some people in to casting a vote for you.

If you cannot make the tough decisions, step aside and allow someone in who will.