Gen. Petraeus runs into resistance from Karzai over village defense forces

bruno · Jul 10, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/09/AR2010070905599.html

Without commenting on the pros & cons of this plan, it strikes me that we are really hamstrung by our inability to conduct diplomacy and planning in relative secrecy. Every staff toad out there seems to find it necessary to run out and leak the details of every meeting which takes place. That gets trumpeted to the world and hardens points of view into absolutes. When you read this story the first thing that springs to mind is that we are dealing with a sovereign government and of course they have their opinions on proposals for how to run a war in their own country. Frequently EVEN WHEN THEY PRIVATELY AGREE, publicly they first have to object (And sometimes they object because they really do know what they are talking about and really object to the proposal as it stands). I have no doubt that Gen Petreaous will sooner rather than later alleviate the Afghan fears and go forward with this.

I'm not complaining about the WaPo reporting this as it is their job to do so. My issue is with the military and foreign service staffers who leak all of this to the media typically so that they can show how connected they are.

Mongo · Jul 10, 2010

bruno said:
I'm not complaining about the WaPo reporting this as it is their job to do so. My issue is with the military and foreign service staffers who leak all of this to the media typicaly so that they can show how connected they are.

You're not the only one concerned. Just two days ago:

http://www.jcs.mil/newsarticle.aspx?ID=324

“Over the last two years, I have lost a first-rate Central Command commander and an outstanding commander of [the International Security Assistance Force] in Afghanistan due to their own missteps in dealing with the media,” he said. “I’ve had to recall a combatant commander to Washington for a verbal reprimand for speaking out inappropriately on a sensitive foreign-policy issue.

“I’ve had two very different presidents each, on several occasions, express concern to me about senior defense officials, both civilian and military, speaking out inappropriately on foreign-policy issues,” he continued.

Gates said he is frustrated and concerned with the situation and hopes these reminders of the standing rules will help the department communicate with the American people via the media.

I really don't want to make this into a political issue but is a President, VP, First Lady, and others in the administration who seem to appear regularly on Jay Leno (VP was on last night) and other talk shows setting the proper example? Is this a "do as I say, not as I do"? Are they telling our military leaders that they are saavy enough to navigate the murky waters of late night TV but that they cannot trust their underlings to do the same? (Perhaps they are correct on this one).

And then we have the White House leak that SecDef Gates and CJCS Mullen were on board with the troop withdrawal plan in Afghanistan.

bruno · Jul 10, 2010

Mongo said:
You're not the only one concerned. Just two days ago:

http://www.jcs.mil/newsarticle.aspx?ID=324

I really don't want to make this into a political issue but is a President, VP, First Lady, and others in the administration who seem to appear regularly on Jay Leno (VP was on last night) and other talk shows setting the proper example? Is this a "do as I say, not as I do"? Are they telling our military leaders that they are saavy enough to navigate the murky waters of late night TV but that they cannot trust their underlings to do the same? (Perhaps they are correct on this one).

And then we have the White House leak that SecDef Gates and CJCS Mullen were on board with the troop withdrawal plan in Afghanistan.

Good question- conducting the affairs of state via late night comedy shows seems pretty unseemly to me and when dealing with foreign countries and with enemies- I think it is dangerous if not disasterous. It's everywhere in all parties although i think that the current administration has really taken it to a new level. It's like we have become complete creatures of the moment - the sound bite is the objective.
But other countries are not "sophisticated" enough to understand it's all just a game to play for momentary advantage with public opinion polls. They actually believe what they read and often take offense or conclude that we are totally unreliable partners or weak and indecisive opponents who are easily manipulated because we telegraph all of our weakpoints and objectives.