So, there’s a movement to give General David Petraeus a fifth star. I was asked, “Do you think General Petraeus should be a five star general?”
My answer was, “No.” And then there was some vitrol thrown at me about how unpatriotic and unAmerican I am. I waited a good five minutes for the moron to calm the fuck down, and then I proceeded to state why.
I have logical reasons for it, despite the fact that I don’t like the wars. It goes something like this:
1. The true purpose of a five star general is to centralize command of all US military assets in a branch under one individual. That was the original purpose of the rank. Although, in previous years, we went all sentimental on old generals who had a giant impact on winning major wars (Ulysses Grant being the most obvious one). General Petraeus is not the bona-fide, centralized general over any one specific branch with control over most of the assets, nor does he need to be. He ran one theater of war (Iraq) and now runs a second theater of war (Afghanistan). That’s ONE area of the world we’re deployed in. We’re deployed in technically four hot zones across the globe.
2. General Petraeus is not fighting a war against a defined enemy that is a direct threat to the preservation of the US. I don’t care what any looney right-wing or overly-patriotic nutjob says – right now, Afghanistan is about fighting a counter-insurgency that includes Al-Q and Pashtun fighters. 2/3’s of the people we blow up are not terrorists – they are counter-insurgents or civilians. He’s mostly trying to stablize a nation we invaded and destabilized ourselves. He doesn’t need five star power to do that, nor does he need uber-recognition for it.
3. We already have too many four star generals. We need another holier than thou five star general like we need another hole in our economy. The only thing accomplished by appointing a five star general now would be to drive a wedge in the military units working with the forces in Afghanistan.
I’m thinking the true reason some people are pushing to give David Petraeus a fifth star is so that he becomes the ideal GOP candidate for President. I’ve already stated that he’s a puppet for idealists and crybabies still bitter about losing Vietnam. I’m wililng to bet – if not in 2012 – he will run for President in 2016 in the Republican Party. The GOP would totally expect a win if they did it.
Because people are stupid, overly patriotic and allow their sentiments to rule their logic. Like this person who asked me that stupid question. And is still crying in their salad about my answer.
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