Thread: White House seeks "czar" to oversee wars: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House wants to appoint a high-profile overseer to manage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has had trouble finding someone to take the job, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have turned down the position, the report said.
The war "czar" would report directly to President George W. Bush and national security adviser Stephen Hadley and would have authority to issue directions to the Pentagon and the State Department, the newspaper said.
Retired Marine Gen. John "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander, was among those who rejected the job, the newspaper reported.
"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," Sheehan told the Post.
Sheehan said he believes that Vice President Dick Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq, the Post reported.
"So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,' " Sheehan told the paper.
Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane and retired Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston were also approached and said they were not interested in the position, the newspaper said, citing sources.
Ralston declined to comment while Keane confirmed he turned down the job, the Post said.
The White House has not publicly disclosed its interest in creating the position, hoping to find someone to fill the post before the job is announced.
Officials said they were still considering options to reorganize the White House's management of the two wars, the Post said.

Originally Posted by michaelr

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House wants to appoint a high-profile overseer to manage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but has had trouble finding someone to take the job, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have turned down the position, the report said.
The war "czar" would report directly to President George W. Bush and national security adviser Stephen Hadley and would have authority to issue directions to the Pentagon and the State Department, the newspaper said.
Retired Marine Gen. John "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander, was among those who rejected the job, the newspaper reported.
"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," Sheehan told the Post.
Sheehan said he believes that Vice President Dick Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq, the Post reported.
"So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,' " Sheehan told the paper.
Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane and retired Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston were also approached and said they were not interested in the position, the newspaper said, citing sources.
Ralston declined to comment while Keane confirmed he turned down the job, the Post said.
The White House has not publicly disclosed its interest in creating the position, hoping to find someone to fill the post before the job is announced.
Officials said they were still considering options to reorganize the White House's management of the two wars, the Post said.

Hmm. Is Bush looking for a scapegoat? Nah, too late for that. He shows by this that he has every intention of "staying the course".

Why don't they just create a Secretary of War post and quit with all the fucked up naming conventions.

Originally Posted by sid2112

Why don't they just create a Secretary of War post and quit with all the fucked up naming conventions.

Yes - "War CZAR" - how Imperialist can you get!!??

No matter what you call it, Noone in their right minds would want this job... all you'll get is shit from everyone. Besides- I thought Bush was a WAR president - got a bit too hot, huh?

Originally Posted by Latherty

Yes - "War CZAR" - how Imperialist can you get!!??

No matter what you call it, Noone in their right minds would want this job... all you'll get is shit from everyone. Besides- I thought Bush was a WAR president - got a bit too hot, huh?

While the troops get the news that they will stay a bit longer, Bush wants to bail out.

Originally Posted by michaelr

While the troops get the news that they will stay a bit longer, Bush wants to bail out.

His term is reaching the final stages, and if he can manage to divert the pressure and attention onto someone else, leaving office with his amnesty in place will be much easier.

Of course it will be even more beneficial in the end, to keep the people occupied with the hype of the next Presidential race, so that whilst the people's backs are turned, he can scurry like a rat back into his hole.

I am sure he will find somebody. How bout that old lady attorney friend of his, whats her name, Mier? She's prob not busy. Or Brown, he's not busy either after leaving FEMA.