General Batiste Consorts With The Enemy?

ANO

I suppose the anti-Americanist groups will be howling that sentiment fairly soon enough.

HT to Blue Crab Boulevard

Major General John Batiste, long touted by the anti-war left as a critic of the war in Iraq (he was) has abruptly switched sides, quit the anti-war Vote Vets group and has joined with Pete Hegseth and Vets for Freedom. An op-ed piece in the Washington Post co-authored by the two men calls for an end to the political posturing in Washington. [...]

We shall see. In commenting whether or not the Leftinistra will begin their nasty diatribes towards the "turn-coat" General they once had in their back pockets, BCB writes:

Well, you know they can't do the latter. They are emotionally invested in forcing a defeat. So its off to the attack! (Alternatively, they may simply ignore Batiste and pretend he never was with them before he was against them.)

That's so truly funny, as in odd, it is truly sad.

Way back in Nov of 2006, an eternity in internet circles, wasn't it General Batiste the one that said that a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq was a really bad idea? And, was it not this same General that said otherwise BEFORE the elections of Nov 2006? Just wondering out loud here.

So, we see that victory has a thousand fathers while anti-war Generals switch sides and cross the crazy lines. While all eyes that have a clue are looking towards Iraq, the once confused and beguiled proponents of defeatist rhetoric see the light and add their footnotes to history.

In the op-ed in the Washington Post by Pete Hegseth and General Batiste, we find many words of wisdom; words so alien to the current collection of political hacks in Congress and within the electorate.

Congress has been entangled in a war-funding debate that pits war "supporters" against antiwar "defeatists." With all sides seemingly entrenched, a stalemate looms. The Pentagon, meanwhile, will soon begin stripping money from its training budget to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our military men and women deserve better than partisan politics; they deserve honest assessments of our nation's performance in fighting the Long War. [...] read the rest

It has been a long time since we have men of stature utter these words and I, as a DAV, hope and pray that our pathetic and self-absorbed politicians will set aside their trivial aspirations for the good of the nation as a whole. I might add, since when does an insignificant few dictate to the rest of the nation? In light of recent data, the "anti-war" crowds are way low on the totem pole of significance.

The op-ed at the WaPo is well worth the read and therein, the two once vehemently opposed philosophies now agree on five points. You will need to read the article to catch the full meanings:
Hegseth and Baptiste point to five fundamental tenets they believe America must rally behind.

First, the United States must be successful in the fight against worldwide Islamic extremism.

Second, whether or not we like it, Iraq is central to that fight.

Third, the counterinsurgency campaign led by Gen. David Petraeus is the correct approach in Iraq.

Fourth, our strategy in fighting the Long War must address Iran.

Fifth, our military capabilities need to match our national strategy.

The about-face by General Batiste has significant impact to the tune of a 10.5 on the seismic counters. First, he has recognized that the Surge is by-God working and that the VoteVets group, financed by Soros, is wrong.

I have been preaching those five points ever since the Democratic Party Leadership and their RINO moppets began their cut and run and redeploy idiocy.

[...] We have seen this ruthless enemy firsthand, and its global ambitions are undeniable. This struggle, the Long War, will probably take decades to prosecute. Failure is not an option. [...]

Did you hear that, America? FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. Then, there are these words that I know for a fact have been vocalized but the Loony anti-Americanists ignore them at their own peril.

[...] Today's tactical gains in Iraq -- while a necessary pre-condition for political reconciliation -- will crumble without a deliberate and comprehensive strategy. [...]

Exactly so. and, the article ends with the words I also know for a fact I myself and my fellow veterans have plastered every where we could...

[...] Americans must mobilize for the Long War -- bolster our strained military, galvanize industry to supply troops with what they need right now and fund the strategy with long-term solutions. We have no doubt that Americans will rally behind a call to arms.

America's veterans --young and old -- are resolved to support and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. This commitment, and nothing less, should compel us to stand together, in and out of uniform. Would that Congress finds the courage to bury its pride and do the same. [...]

I have my Go Bag(s) ready. Just say the word.

One should wonder if the same people that lauded General Batiste as a leading authority on the War In Iraq will reconsider their stands or will they shrug him off as a Chicken Hawk or something else just as demeaning and disingenuous.

Similar thoughts are here.

Catch the wave at memeorandum...

Haven't heard a hoot from the Libtards yet but a bunch of us are catching up!

Amy Proctor
Redstate
Right Wing News
Sister Toldjah
Wake Up America

Turn About Is Fair Play

Posted Dec 9, 2007 by mlh in Politics | 16 comments | 360 views

One should wonder if the same people that lauded General Batiste as a leading authority on the War In Iraq will reconsider their stands or will they shrug him off as a Chicken Hawk or something else just as demeaning and disingenuous.

On Saturday, 12/8/07, the once avid critic of the Iraq War has suddenly, or not, had a change of heart. In a co-authored op-ed in the Washington Post, John Batiste and Pete Hegseth have partnered up and are calling for Getting Beyond Stalemate to Win a War.

General Batiste resigned his commission as an Officer and a Gentleman under protest as to the policies of Donald Rumsfeld in executing the GWOT in Iraq.

John Batiste has left his posting at VoteVets, a George Soros funded organization, for the Vets For Freedom organization, of which, I myself am a proud member. Vets For Freedom is an organization comprised of Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans and currently serving military members that support the War In Iraq and the War In Afghanistan. The organization understands that the wars must be won and enabling the enemy is simply wrong-headed.

Congress has been entangled in a war-funding debate that pits war "supporters" against antiwar "defeatists." With all sides seemingly entrenched, a stalemate looms. The Pentagon, meanwhile, will soon begin stripping money from its training budget to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our military men and women deserve better than partisan politics; they deserve honest assessments of our nation's performance in fighting the Long War. [...]

I could not have said better if I had said so myself. However, I believe I have been saying nearly the identical words since I came home in 2003 and saw a different America from when I left.

[...] Our perspectives were different, yet not as stark as the "outspoken general" and "stay-the-course supporter" labels we received. Such labels are oversimplified and inaccurate, and we are united behind a greater purpose.

It's time to discuss the way forward rather than prosecute the past. Congress must do the same, for our nation and the troops. [...]

That is called Teamwork...a term and concept that has been AWOL in the United States CONgress since 1976. There are too many, I dare say the vast majority, members of the House and Senate that care only for their political aspirations and they listen to the loudest mouths of the populace no matter the intent. That is called pandering and catering to an insignificant number of people yet the most vocal. Times are changing.

The American People did indeed cry out for change in the War In Iraq but it wasn't what some claim it to be. We demanded a Victory and not a cut and run defeat. Recent polls will bear that out.

General David Petraeus, the counter-insurgency genius, has turned the tide in Iraq and victory is indeed at hand. There are five points that must be met and understood as presented by both men in the WaPo op-ed. The third point is instrumental and we have seen many CONgressional politicians once saying "the war is lost" now in agreement on this key point:

[...] Third, the counterinsurgency campaign led by Gen. David Petraeus is the correct approach in Iraq. It is showing promise of success and, if continued, will provide the Iraqi government the opportunities it desperately needs to stabilize its country. Ultimately, however, these military gains must be cemented with regional and global diplomacy, political reconciliation, and economic recovery -- tools yet sufficiently utilized. Today's tactical gains in Iraq -- while a necessary pre-condition for political reconciliation -- will crumble without a deliberate and comprehensive strategy. [...]

The vast majority of Americans have been saying this same thing seemingly forever but it has gone mostly unheeded until recently. The agony of victory is troublesome to a small section of American society and the explanation to that escapes me.

When, one by one, former anti-war proponents realize that they were on the wrong side of an issue, have the moral fortitude to come forward, the political quagmire in American politics can be purged of ignorance and self-absorbed foolishness.

As John Batiste and Pete Hegseth so stated, Americans will hear and rise to a Call To Arms.

[...] Americans must mobilize for the Long War -- bolster our strained military, galvanize industry to supply troops with what they need right now and fund the strategy with long-term solutions. We have no doubt that Americans will rally behind a call to arms.

America's veterans -- young and old -- are resolved to support and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. This commitment, and nothing less, should compel us to stand together, in and out of uniform. Would that Congress finds the courage to bury its pride and do the same. [...]

I know Pete Hegseth and one day I just might be fortunate enough to meet General Batiste.

Vote it up at Digital Journal