|
View previous topic :: View next topic
|
| Author |
Message |
SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
|
 Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject: More Administration monkey-business |
    |
|
Pentagon Shakes Up Emergency Hierarchy
- By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, December 29, 2005
(12-29) 08:01 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --
Heading a military service isn't quite the position of power it used to be. In a Bush administration revision of plans for Pentagon succession in a doomsday scenario, three of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's most loyal advisers moved ahead of the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
A little-noticed holiday week executive order from President Bush moved the Pentagon's intelligence chief to the No. 3 spot in the succession hierarchy behind Rumsfeld. The second spot would be the deputy secretary of defense, but that position currently is vacant. The Army secretary, which long held the No. 3 spot, was dropped to sixth.
The changes, announced last week, are the second in six months and reflect the administration's new emphasis on intelligence gathering versus combat in 21st century war fighting.
Technically, the line of succession is assigned to specific positions, rather than the current individuals holding those jobs.
But in its current incarnation, the doomsday plan moves to near the top three undersecretaries who are Rumsfeld loyalists and who previously worked for Vice President Dick Cheney when he was defense secretary.
The changes were recommended, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, because the three undersecretaries have "a broad knowledge and perspective of overall Defense Department operations." The service leaders are more focused on training, equipping and leading a particular military service, said Whitman.
Thomas Donnelly, a defense expert with the American Enterprise Institute, said the changes make it easier for the administration to assert political control and could lead to more narrow-minded decisions.
"It continues to devalue the services as institutions," said Donnelly, saying it will centralize power and shift it away from the services, where there is generally more military expertise.
Under the new plan, Rumsfeld ally Stephen Cambone, the undersecretary for intelligence, moved up to the third spot. Former Ambassador Eric Edelman, the policy undersecretary, and Kenneth Krieg, the undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, hold the fourth and fifth positions.
The first to succeed Rumsfeld remains the deputy secretary, a position currently vacant because the Senate has not confirmed Bush's nominee — current Navy Secretary Gordon England.
Senators have already approved Donald Winter to be England's replacement as Navy chief, and it is expected that Bush will eventually move England into the No. 2 Pentagon job without congressional approval through a recess appointment.
The new succession order bumps the Navy secretary to near the bottom of the line of succession — eighth behind the deputy, the three Pentagon undersecretaries and the Army and Air Force secretaries.
The Army secretary historically has been third in line, right behind the deputy secretary.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, intelligence gathering has taken center stage. Earlier this year, Bush named former ambassador John Negroponte as the country's first director of national intelligence, charged with overseeing the government's 15 highly competitive spy agencies.
In spring 2003, Rumsfeld installed Cambone — one of his closest aides — in the new job of intelligence undersecretary.
____________________________________________________________
SDR
_________________
"I'm the commander . . . see, I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." GWB |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Richard Haut
millennium club
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1137
Location: Nice, France
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
And I always thought that the film "Dr. Strangelove" was a comedy.
What you have there guys is not a doomsday hierarchy, but a Shadow Government.
_________________
Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 10:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yeah, it's scary. (Note that this news was published on a Thursday between major international holidays, where it was sure to be missed or ignored.)
Sadly, I see zero chance of this president being impeached. . .
SDR
_________________
"I'm the commander . . . see, I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." GWB |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Richard Haut
millennium club
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1137
Location: Nice, France
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, there's scary - and then there's scary.
I am no friend of the Israeli Rightwingers, but let's be fair: Ariel, Bibi and the gang do not scare easily, do they ?
ISRAEL is scared by what is happening. So much so that they have had to say, no, we do not REALLY want regime change in Syria (after all, the extremely mild-mannered Assad is the best that they could hope for) and, no, they now admit, they have no intention of attacking Iran - not REALLY attacking them.
The problem with the Neo-Cons is that they have no critical faculties at all - none, zilch. They are like clockwork toys. Wind them up, point them in a direction and off they go, whirring and clunking along.
_________________
Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 12:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The terminally venal and megalomaniac will always see their interests as co-incident with those of their fellow countrymen, if not with those of humanity as a whole - or at least they will pretend so to believe. This delusion, or appearance of same, is perhaps necessary in order to convince themselves, or to justify themselves to others.
Of course, it's easier if you are convinced that you owe no explanation for your actions. . .
_________________
"I'm the commander . . . see, I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." GWB |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ed Ziomek
Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 499
Location: Stamford, Connecticut
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject: Clueless here... SNAFU there.... |
|
|
Rich and SDR, again I find myself puzzled in your different perspective.
Bush's approval ratings are up, kinda sorta.
The election in Iraq is being challenged... the world jury is favoring a "success", all the votes money could buy. What more should we expect?
Iraqis are questioning the outcome, and that is fair. And virtually all of them want a timetable for departure, which we are starting to implement.
Homeland Security is being questioned as to its ACTUAL effectiveness.
The source of the NSA leaks are being investigated.
Why would the Israeli's be concerned... this is typical Washington politics... Situation Normal, All Ffffd Up!
Again, I am puzzled.
signed...Boy Blunder.
_________________
Ed Ziomek |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
B B -- While I wouldn't accuse you of being a Polyanna -- and I'm sure you wouldn't call me a cynic -- it's going to take a lot more than the "successes" (?) you mention, to restore America's reputation -- to say nothing of the lives disrupted by our "global adventures."
SDR
_________________
"I'm the commander . . . see, I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." GWB |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ed Ziomek
Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 499
Location: Stamford, Connecticut
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 6:24 am Post subject: Restore ?? Reputation |
|
|
BB here...
SDR... I don't think you will disagree. The American Government started this millenium with an inept cowboy reputation, and we have done everything to confirm it, what do you think? Certainly not the American people, nor the American military, nor the American spirit, nor the American true, true courage. Let me take 2 seconds to mention the newscaster Sonjay Gupta who took a trip to earthquake ravaged Pakistan and offerred to give his coat to a shoeless Pakistani boy in the sub-freezing cold, toes already showing signs of frostbite. The boy ran off. This is an America and an American to be proud of, regardless of the outcome.
But let me share a bad dream I had... The King and his Court, surrounded by all the experts of the realm, calls the local Fool for advice...
Yours Truly shows up... "Speaketh fool, what the hell is going on?"
You started with a problem, now you have a bigger problem. But you silenced the opposition, thinking your friends were enemies, and your enemies were your friends. Surely, Osama Bin Loathsome did you your biggest favors, gave you Carte Blanche freedoms to do as you wish, he was not your friend. So you turned your vipers on your own people... You tried to take their pension plans, took away their overtime. The TV personality you dogged into jail - her crime? Held a Democratic fund raiser; And the Televison newscaster who questioned your father... got him replaced; And the prominent lawyer that was mysteriously disbarred...."
"Your point, fool?"
America is not your enemy, the world is not your enemy. You are not a friend.
"Off with your head, fool."
_________________
Ed Ziomek |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 10:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yup -- we're living that nightmare, one day at a time. And there will be people, years from now, who will still proclaim that GWB was "a great president" (just as other ne'er-do-wells have their diehard supporters).
Now begins the season (for American politicians) of preperation for the next elections -- so all activities, and calculated inactivities, will be geared toward remaining in power, gaining power, regaining power, etc.
A pox on all their houses, say I ! And a Happy New Year to you.
SDR
_________________
"I'm the commander . . . see, I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." GWB |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
blogger
del.icio.us
digg
slashdot
