The President has called on a Familiar Face

He's back! After letting General Stanley McChrystal go, which he had been trying to do for a while now, Obama has called upon General David Petraeus, who successfully led in Iraq, during "The Surge" which has been deemed an overwhelming success, to command the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. There are a few ironic items about this move by the president. First, and Rush pointed this out on his show this week, Petraeus was successful under President George W. Bush, a person who Obama loves to blame for his lack of success in the presidency, and now Obama is calling upon W's general to fix Afghanistan.

Second, Obama himself was a vocal critic of Petraeus, as seen in this clip during his brief tenure as Junior Senator from Illinois:



Knowing that Petraeus is saving the president, he would be smart to give free reign and not stand in the way and dither in the fashion he did with McChrystal. Apparently, Petraeus is getting right to work in modifying the Afghanistan Rules of Engagement. Let's hope the Senate in confirmation hearings next week, will treat him with much more respect than they did in 2007. (I haven't yet forgotten this.)

I am glad to see General Petraeus in this position. He has proven himself a capable leader, a scholar and a hero in not only in Iraq, but throughout his life. A graduate of the US Military Academy (top 5% of his class), a IR PhD from Princeton/Woodrow Wilson School of Public/International Affairs, he has applied these degrees to his decorated career in the military. He has survived a parachute accident, being shot in the chest in a training exercise and prostate cancer, and still has more energy at 57 than many men at 40! The president did a smart thing in bringing Petraeus into this position.

Again, Petraeus knows this and should lead and guide the president so that our troops most benefit. One misstep by the President and Petraeus should walk and not have to endure and follow through on the president's (to this point) misguided policy.

Wouldn't it be interesting if David Petraeus challenges Obama in 2012...I have my popcorn ready for that one!