Tale of two public services

[Guthrie]

there was a time when serving in govt meant serving the country -- that was before the criminals moved in to the White House

Seattle P I

WASHINGTON -- I remember how President Kennedy constantly urged young people to go into public service, telling them it could be the crown of their careers.

And I remember contrary advice from a young aide in the Nixon White House during the Watergate scandal. When he was asked at a Senate committee hearing what he would tell a young person who wanted to go into public service, the aide replied: "I'd tell him to stay away."

There is no question that there has been disillusionment on the part of many government officials in every administration. Quite often it's a slippery slope when aides become "good soldiers" and follow orders that may run counter to their conscience.

The fate of Lewis "Scooter" Libby is a case in point. Libby had served in many government positions since 1981. His last job was as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, a powerful role considering the clout that Cheney wields in the current administration.

Libby was convicted last month of obstruction of justice and perjury in the investigation of the leaking of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame's name.

In an interview last weekend on CBS-TV's "Face the Nation," Cheney said he had not talked to Libby since his conviction. "There hasn't been an occasion to do so, but I have enormous regard for the man. I believe deeply in Scooter Lobby. This is a great tragedy."

While government service can be rewarding, it also has its pitfalls. The Libby case shows how former aides become untouchable once they fall by the wayside.

The Bush administration called on then-Secretary of State Colin Powell before the U.S. invasion of Iraq to win over Americans who were undecided about the merits of such an attack. He made a take-no-prisoners presentation on Feb. 5, 2003, and convinced many that Saddam Hussein was indeed seeking weapons of mass destruction.

Later, when the evidence was in and no weapons were found, Powell said the whole sales job had been a "blot" on his career.

Powell was ousted after Bush's first term, as was former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, who had been serving as head of the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in the Bush White House. That board advises the president about U.S. intelligence operations.

In Scowcroft's case, he had made the mistake of publicly criticizing the attack on Iraq.

Both Powell and Scowcroft are veterans of the administration of the president's father, former President Bush. Both were dedicated public servants but both were dumped for being too dovish in a very hawkish administration.

It is sad that the White House was turned down by five retired generals when they were offered the new post of "czar" to coordinate all U.S. activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Retired Marine Corps Gen. John Sheehan explained his rejection of the job in an op-ed column in The Washington Post Monday titled "Why I Declined To Serve."

He began by saying:

"Service to the nation is both a responsibility and an honor for every citizen presented with an opportunity. This is especially true in times of war and crisis.

"Today, because of the war in Iraq, this nation is in a crisis of confidence and is confused about its foreign policy direction, especially in the Middle East."

The general went on to list the obstacles and the enormity of the post, including overcoming the bureaucracy and fitting the new "surge" -- or escalation of the war -- into the overall strategic framework.

Sheehan wound up by saying, "It would have been a great honor to serve the country again" but after "thoughtful discussions with people in and out of the administration," he decided not to take the position.

The general added: "We got it right in the early days of Afghanistan ... (but) we have never gotten it right in Iraq."

There probably are many who are serving in those far off places who feel the same way, but they don't have the luxury of saying, "No, I won't go."

***

Helen Thomas is a columnist for Hearst Newspapers. E-mail: [email protected]. Copyright 2007 Hearst Newspapers.

[ScottSA]

Well then, if Helen Thomas doesn't like Bush, Bush must be bad.

[Guthrie]

Well then, if Helen Thomas doesn't like Bush, Bush must be bad.

the most truthful thing the lad has ever offered --- and he doesn't even know it

[Figleaf]

Well then, if Helen Thomas doesn't like Bush, Bush must be bad.

the most truthful thing the lad has ever offered --- and he doesn't even know it

[B. Max]

there was a time when serving in govt meant serving the country --

Until liberals turned government into a self serving bloated bureaucracy.

[PolyNewbie]

the most truthful thing the lad has ever offered --- and he doesn't even know it

ROTFLMAO

[Guthrie]

there was a time when serving in govt meant serving the country --

Until liberals turned government into a self serving bloated bureaucracy.

that is the opposite of truth -- the Peace Corps and Volunteers In Service To America have been venues to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ - helping mankind, improving the lot of all men

it is the servants of greed who spread sex-slavery to the Mariannas Islands and produced the criminal corporations of Enron and Haliburton

and it's slugs like Dubya who hired Brownie and Monica Goodling and Scooter Libby and KKKarl Rove

[B. Max]

Until liberals turned government into a self serving bloated bureaucracy.

that is the opposite of truth -- the Peace Corps and Volunteers In Service To America have been venues to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ - helping mankind, improving the lot of all men

it is the servants of greed who spread sex-slavery to the Mariannas Islands and produced the criminal corporations of Enron and Haliburton

and it's slugs like Dubya who hired Brownie and Monica Goodling and Scooter Libby and KKKarl Rove

Commie nonsense.

[Guthrie]

Until liberals turned government into a self serving bloated bureaucracy.

that is the opposite of truth -- the Peace Corps and Volunteers In Service To America have been venues to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ - helping mankind, improving the lot of all men

it is the servants of greed who spread sex-slavery to the Mariannas Islands and produced the criminal corporations of Enron and Haliburton

and it's slugs like Dubya who hired Brownie and Monica Goodling and Scooter Libby and KKKarl Rove

Commie nonsense.

prove it

[B. Max]

Commie nonsense.

prove it

I don't have to prove anything. Your anti capitalist rants smearing good companies proves it.

[Guthrie]

prove it

I don't have to prove anything. Your anti capitalist rants smearing good companies proves it.

not anti capitalist ---- anti fascist

and I've proven that fascists have assaulted this country and taken the White House

[B. Max]

and I've proven that fascists have assaulted this country and taken the White House

You have proven nothing at all.

[Guthrie]

'War czar' post no morale boost while unfilled

The president is looking for a "war czar" to oversee the Iraq and Afghanistan war operations. As of now, no one is willing to take the job.

That sure must be a morale builder for the troops in the field fighting this war.

Bert King

Port Charlotte

Link

[Guthrie]

"lacks direction," "will not succeed," --- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says nothing different than the generals say

While it is an idea that has not fully developed, the position of War Czar appears to be open and ready for hire.

"It's something I would like to have done yesterday and if yesterday wasn't available, the day before," National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters last week.

Meanwhile, a retired US general recently tapped to be the Bush administration’s “War Czar” has said the Iraq war strategy lacks direction and will not succeed.

Retired Marine General John Sheehan, a former top NATO commander, said earlier this month that he had turned down an offer to oversee the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq for the Bush administration mainly because of Mr Cheney’s hawkish and pervasive influence on US foreign policy and military strategy in the Middle East.

“The very fundamental issue is they don’t know where the hell they’re going,” General Sheehan told the Washington Post. He berated the chaotic military strategy in Iraq and said he supports the more diplomatic, political realist efforts of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. “So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, ‘No, thanks’.”

It has been reported that three retired four-star generals have rejected the White House’s offer to co-ordinate the war efforts in a new position dubbed “War Czar” which would report directly to the President. This has left the beleaguered Bush administration struggling to fill the position.

In the Senate this week, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) seized the opportunity to draw attention to what he considers another indication of Iraq policy failure. “The message from the generals who were offered the war czar position has been crystal clear. If they really thought the administration had a strategy that could succeed in Iraq, why did they turn down the job?”

Link

[B. Max]

Link

The secretary of defense over sees the war.

[Guthrie]

duh - and that's because they have found NO ONE to take the new position of War Czar

[Figleaf]

... smearing good companies proves it.

WTF are they putting in your water?

[B. Max]

... smearing good companies proves it.

WTF are they putting in your water?

Ceratainly not cool-aid.

[Guthrie]

I can't imagine what they could possibly force these guys to drink, vile enough to make em urp up, "good company," for Enron!!!

but they'll defend 'Murder Incorporated,' if Buschistas are connected to it

[Jerry Galinda]

Woody - as usual talk about fascist !

Ridiculous child without knowledge about fascism.

According Woody - "There have been more Canadian and American Nazi's than there were German Nazi's ---"

Woody you are a liar !

[Guthrie]

what's wrong, jerry, too close to family history?

sorry about your upset

[Jerry Galinda]

Response is false.

Your response confirm that you are a stupid child !

Your mentality is similar to nazis and communists !

What's the worst - you are resistant to knowledge.

[PolyNewbie]

I don't have to prove anything. Your anti capitalist rants smearing good companies proves it.

No bid contracts and giant monopolies isn't real "capitalism".

[B. Max]

I don't have to prove anything. Your anti capitalist rants smearing good companies proves it.

No bid contracts and giant monopolies isn't real "capitalism".

In order to bid there has to be a contract to bid on. They'll have an hourly or monthly rate for their men and equipment. Saddam had let the oil infrastructure get run down. There is no way of knowing exactly what had to be done until they could get in there and check it out out piece by piece. It would be a massive job of unknowns. Halliburton is not a monopoly but they do have the world wide resources to do the job.

Enron was a good company until they over extened themselves with their natural gas holdings which couldn't be supported with the price.

[margrace]

Until liberals turned government into a self serving bloated bureaucracy.

that is the opposite of truth -- the Peace Corps and Volunteers In Service To America have been venues to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ - helping mankind, improving the lot of all men

it is the servants of greed who spread sex-slavery to the Mariannas Islands and produced the criminal corporations of Enron and Haliburton

and it's slugs like Dubya who hired Brownie and Monica Goodling and Scooter Libby and KKKarl Rove

Commie nonsense.

Yep if you ask for a fair deal you are termed a commie, falling back on 20th century propaganda to keep people down