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Assume the Position

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.”   

Given the state of relations between the Bush administration and Congress, and the eagerness in Congress for destructive self-promotion, “assume the position” is the key phrase regarding any confirmation hearing before anyone gets to start work.  Big question: does it describe what will happen after he gets the job.

WaPo:

 In choosing Lute, Bush picked a key internal voice of dissent during the administration review that led to the troop increase. Reflecting the views of other members of the Joint Chiefs, Lute argued that a short-term “surge” would do little good and that any sustained increase in forces had to be matched by equal emphasis on political and economic steps, according to officials informed about the deliberations.

Maybe Congress can find something to like.  He’s been a critic.  However, Congress has not shown any interest in a sustained increase in force, with or without an equal emphasis on political and economic steps.  If the Democratic leadership were anything like that realistic …

NYT highlights more likely Dem Cong talking point:

Even before the White House had made the news public, war opponents were using the impending announcement to criticize the administration’s Iraq policy. Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, an advocacy group, issued a statement citing a remark General Lute made in an interview with the Financial Times in August 2005, in which he argued for significant troop reductions. “You simply have to back off and let the Iraqis step forward,” the general said at the time. “You have to undercut the perception of occupation in Iraq.”

There’s always the possibility that, rather than an admission of failure or a capitulation by the Bush administration, it’s a very clever move.  Whatever Lute may have done, said or believed in the past, he’ll need to make this work.  And he has to do what his boss wants. 

Captains Quarters says someone is going to need to explain how this works.   

Intel Dump anticipates some issues.

Gun-toting Liberal wants to know when we started using some Russkie word for a governmental overlord.  The last czar ended up in a ditch in Ykaterinberg. If we’re going with old world power terminology, how about Khan.  Douglas Khan.  Or Warlord Lute.   Something the locals will get.  Lute the Terrible.  “Czar” is mainly coming out of the media and the pundits. Bush actually said “full-time manager,” more Eisenhower-like, I suppose. 

Think Progress highlights Lute’s opposition to occupation.  He’s sung the Left’s tune in the past, but what tune is he going to sing now?

Hot Air points out that the Left’s favorite Lute quotes are two years old.  Facts on the ground have changed repeatedly since then.   

Outside the Beltway says three-star directing four-stars is not unprecedented.  It’s also possible I suppose that they can make him a four-star while they’re at it.  The larger question remains: what is he going to say, will they do it, and will Congress give them a chance to do it.

Instapundit: Ridgeway had the job in Korea, it helped. But aren’t they supposed to be doing this anyway?

Talk about assuming the position: Greenpeace, assuming we’re about to get flooded out, positions its ark about the high-water mark. Iran, US, assuming their positions at the table. Surge time; alternate positions assumed.  Hey, never mind that veto thing. I assume this means Congress is in no position to be claiming mandates and dictating terms. 

Topics: GWOT, pols

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 7:07 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2007

10 Responses to “Assume the Position”

1. Outside The Beltway | OTB Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 8:05 am

   LTG Doug Lute Appointed War Czar

   After a long search in which he was reportedly turned down by several four star generals, President Bush has found his war czar in the J3’s office: Army LTG Douglas E. Lute. Presuming he is confirmed by the Senate, “Lute would have the ra…

2. corndog Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 9:03 am

   I suppose Bush has to do this because providing the leadership himself is just too much for the poor man. The American people have to understand.

3. The_Real_JeffS Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 9:47 am

   “Gun-toting Liberal wants to know when we started using some Russkie word for a governmental overlord.”

   A long time ago, alas…..

4. RebeccaH Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 10:11 am

   I nominate the word “Sultan”, or maybe “Pasha”. More in keeping with the job at hand, doncha know.

5. The Thunder Run Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 11:18 am

   Web Reconnaissance for 05/16/2007

   A short recon of what�s out there that might draw your attention.

6. The Gun Toting Liberal™ Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 11:19 am

   [...] you to Jules Crittenden for linking to this post - Technorati Tags:  Big Brother, Big Government, Bush, Current Events, discrimination, [...]

7. Bill's Bites Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

   2007.05.16 Dem Perfidy // Islamism Delenda Est Roundup

   See previous: 2007.05.15 Dem Perfidy // Islamism Delenda Est Roundup Below the fold, newest items at the top: LTG Doug Lute Appointed War Czar Getting the War Wrong… Again Four Dems running for president vote to cut off Iraq funding

8. davidstill Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 7:05 pm

   In the past, we had a Secretary ow War. We didn’t like the sound of WAR so the office got renamed Defense Department. Now, alas, we have a War Czar–I guess that tells us something about where America is heading.

9. Why Do We Need a War Czar? | Left Flank Says:
   May 16th, 2007 at 10:55 pm

   [...] "And: being a critic of the surge, will this mean that he will advocate a withdrawal (via Jules Crittenden) if the surge won’t produce the results Bush hopes it [...]

10. Blue Star Chronicles Says:
    May 16th, 2007 at 11:51 pm

    Lt General Douglas Lute to be War Czar

    The Washington Post
    Bush Taps Skeptic of Buildup as ‘War Czar’
    Lt. Gen. Lute Accepts Position Others Spurned
    President Bush tapped Army Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute yesterday to serve as a new White House “war czar” overseeing the c…

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