It is proof of at least one thing: Bush is going to ignore any and all advice and go for a massive troop escalation in Iraq.
But the one change that shocked me, and I mean shocked, was the appointment of Admiral William Fallon to command Central Command. From the US Defense Secretary: (Emphasis mine)
I am proposing to the President that Admiral William Fallon succeed General John Abizaid as commander of Central Command.Central Command has wars going in Afghanistan and Iraq. The major contribution to those wars is ground forces. Fallon is already the commander of a US unified command. His next move up would be into the Pentagon as the Chief of Naval Operations. This is a lateral move. Fallon is a naval aviator.
"As Commander of Pacific Command, Admiral Fallon oversees military operations and security relationships in an area encompassing 43 countries and approximately 60 percent of the world's population. Admiral Fallon's tenure in Asia has been characterized by an extraordinary level of innovation and strategic vision in dealing with a range of political, economic and security challenges. He has forged new partnerships to help combat the influence of violent extremist networks and ideologies that threaten the moderate Muslim nations of the Pacific. A naval flight officer who flew combat missions in Vietnam, Admiral Fallon combines nearly four decades of military experience with a fresh perspective to the challenges America faces in the Central Command's area of operations.
"Fox Fallon is one of the best strategic thinkers in uniform today and his reputation for innovation is without peer. Subject to confirmation, he is exactly the right person for this most challenging assignment.
"I believe that it is essential to have individuals of experience, skill and creativity in key national security positions. However, it is also critical to have a team of individuals whose mix of experience, skills, creativity, and strategic vision make the whole greater than the sum of the individual parts. I have recommended these three men to the President for these positions because I am convinced they have these talents.
"We are engaged in three wars - in Iraq, Afghanistan, and against jihadist terrorism worldwide. As secretary of defense, and as a citizen, I firmly believe that Generals Petraeus and Casey and Admiral Fallon, as individuals and as a team, bring to the challenges that face us the qualities necessary to be successful in war and to protect the American people. After detailed discussions of these prospective appointments with the President, I have recommended these three officers to him for nomination to the U.S. Senate."
How would the US fight Iran? From the Persian Gulf, with naval aviation.
Get ready for it.
More later.
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