02 June 2011

Cartwright's Legs Not Cut Out From Under Him For "Dissent"

According to Secretary Gates, Cartwright was not passed over for CJCS for "dissent". Maybe it was for "disagreement" or "sedition" or "personality differences" instead.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates denied on Thursday that a US general was passed over for the military's top job due to his dissent over Afghan war strategy.
When asked why General James Cartwright was not named as the next chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gates praised the Marine as a talented officer and said media reports were off the mark about why he was not nominated.
"Some of the negative things that have been reported as influencing the decision, for example the Afghan piece, are completely wrong -- had nothing to do with it whatsoever," Gates told reporters aboard his plane to Singapore.
The defense secretary was referring to widespread speculation that Cartwright -- once touted as the leading candidate to become the US military's top-ranking officer -- had been ruled out for the job due to friction with fellow officers over his role in a White House debate on Afghanistan.
Cartwright broke ranks with military brass and Gates during deliberations on a proposed 2009 troop surge and drafted an alternative plan calling for fewer reinforcements, according to an account in Bob Woodward's book, "Obama's War."


By: Brant

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