[Vision2020] White House Considers War Overseer

[Tom Hansen]

>From ABC News at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=3029783

Let me see now.  Since Monday, the Secretary of Defense has extended Iraqi
tours from 12 months to 15 months, extended 20,000 troops currently in Iraq
another four months, and alerted another 7,000 national guard and reserve
personnel.

The White House is now considering creation of a "War Overseer" position, of
which "at least three retired four-star generals in recent weeks . . . have
declined to be considered for the position."

Perhaps they should post this job announcement in the Nickle Saver under
"Who wants to be Bush's scapegoat?"

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White House Considers War Overseer

White House Considers Naming High-Powered Official to Oversee Wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The White House is considering naming a high-powered official
to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and report directly to President
Bush and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. 

The goal would be to improve the coordination of military and civilian
efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan by different parts of the government.

The Washington Post reported that the White House has approached at least
three retired four-star generals in recent weeks, but they have declined to
be considered for the position.

National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Wednesday the White
House has sought advice from a number of people but that no one has been
offered the job.

Currently, the most senior White House official responsible exclusively for
the wars is Meghan O'Sullivan, a deputy national security adviser who
reports to Hadley. She has announced she is leaving, presenting an
opportunity for the White House to rethink how it manages the wars.

"The White House is looking into creating a higher profile position that
would have the single, full time focus on implementing and executing the
recently completed strategic reviews for both Iraq and Afghanistan,"
Johndroe said. "This position would report directly to the president as well
as Steve Hadley and have representatives in the offices of the secretaries
of State and Defense in order to speed up and make more efficient the
implementation of these strategies."

Presidential spokeswoman Dana Perino refused to say whether anyone had
turned down the job.

"I will stress to you that there have been no decisions about any possible
change in structure," Perino said. "There has been no list of candidates
that's been narrowed down. It's an idea that is one very much in the making,
so I don't have any more specifics for you that I can give to you on that."

Democrats poked fun at the White House for searching for an official to
oversee the wars.

"Someone needs to tell Steve Hadley that position is filled, it's the
commander in chief, unless the decider's become the delegator," said Rep.
Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.

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Seeya round town, Moscow

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


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"Seldom, if ever, has a war ended leaving the victors with such a sense of
uncertainty and fear -- with such a realization that the future is obscure
and that survival is not assured."

- Edward R. Murrow

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