Zinni got dissed

Wed, 02/04/2009 - 2:46pm

It isn't good news that the Obama administration apparently offered retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni the job of ambassador to Iraq and then rescinded it without telling him.

Zinni has stepped on a lot of toes through the years, but he is highly respected both inside the U.S. military and in the Arab world. I think he would have made a good proconsul, especially if both the U.S. civilian and military sides of the effort reported to him. 

Alex Wong/Getty Images for Meet the Press

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Maybe There Are Better Things Waiting in the Wings ...

by IRR Soldier... on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 3:09pm

He still may be offered something. Perhaps his unique skills and talents could be better utilized elsewhere in the executive branch.

I wish he were named Secretary of the Army. He might be able to save the institution from its own anti-intelectual tendencies and heightened efforts to seperate itself from the society it serves over the last 7 years of "warrior culture."

After Preston Geren and Francis Harvey (how did they BOTH manage to avoid serving - even in the Guard/Reserve?), there's a lot of work to be done and not a minute to spare!

SecArmy?

by rpm on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 3:51pm

Zinni was a Marine... that is probably a disqualifier for the top Army civilian job.

I don't think that's a disqualifier at all ...

by IRR Soldier... on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 4:10pm

I just found out that George H.W. Bush's Secretary of the Army, Michale Stone, was a WWII British Royal Navy veteran.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._W._Stone

But if there is a unwritten rule to not having a USMC General as SECARMY, I'll gladly take Wesley Clark.

And why does Christopher Hill

by blue13326 on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 4:41pm

And why does Christopher Hill still have a job?

No Unwritten Rule...

by PsyStal on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 6:09pm

At least as far as I'm aware, there's no rule, written or otherwise, preventing an individual from serving as Secretary of a military branch due to service in another branch.

Of course, I'd rather prefer General Zinni not leave his position here at Cornell. I've attended a number of his lectures and panel discussions, and I can attest to the high quality of his teaching. It even appears the he has made some headway among the conservative population here; discussion in the polisci community regarding conflict studies and particularly the Middle East is decidedly less partisan and more informed since his arrival. Hopefully, General Zinni can help prevent Cornell from producing any Wolfowitz-es in this generation.

New Blood Needed Apply Within

by Bill Keller on Thu, 02/05/2009 - 6:26am

If we read the writings on the walls of Babylon (which we now occupy) we have been measured and found wanting as Daniel would have warned us. It is time for this generation to join those in the financial community with Ulysses and wonder about Dublin while another generation takes up the siege of the heirs of Troy. If diversity is desired following Don Quixote in upstate New York will do. Just restrict the bankers to tending the mule. Only generals can wear the wash pan lid with their digitally green pajamas and UGG boots and lead upon a horse (Mules are for the guidance of West Pointers, only.).

There are restrictions on

by Unicorn on Sat, 02/07/2009 - 7:55am

There are restrictions on retired officers in presidential appointments A four star general must be retired by law for five years to eligible for a service and ten for Defense Secretary. George C Marshall's waiver of the law came with a one vote margin.