It was easy to miss this exchange, which near the end of Gen.
Petraeus' confirmation hearing for CIA last week. It is worth reading closely.
GEN.
PETRAEUS: ...So again, I would come back, if I could, Chairman, to my point,
which has to do strictly with the military commander on the ground strictly
evaluating, again, the military campaign plan in awareness of the strategic
context and these other factors that are out there in explicit recognition that
others have to evaluate those factors. I cannot do that. Only the president of
the United States can assess all of the different considerations.
And again,
I should note that I stated this in the situation room to acknowledge that
indeed in this process there are broader concerns than those of the military
commander. And as a result, I obviously support the ultimate decision of the
commander-in-chief -- that is, we take an oath to obey the orders of the
president of the United States and indeed do that.
SEN.
LEVIN: And if you couldn't do that -- if you couldn't do that consistent with
that oath, you would resign?
GEN.
PETRAEUS: Well, I'm not a quitter, Chairman. And I don't -- I think that that -
SEN.
LEVIN: Well, but that's important -- (inaudible).
(Cross
talk.)
GEN. PETRAEUS: I've actually had people e-mail me and say that, and I actually
-- this is something that I have thought a bit about.
SEN.
LEVIN: I'm sure you have.
GEN.
PETRAEUS: And I don't think that it is the place for a commander to -- actually
to consider that kind of step unless you are in a very, very dire situation. This
is a -- this is an important decision. It is, again, a more aggressive approach
than the chairman, General Mattis and I and -- would have indeed certainly put
forward, but this is not something I think where one hangs up the uniform in
protest or something like that.
SEN.
LEVIN: Just the final part of this -
GEN.
PETRAEUS: You know, if I could continue though, Chairman, I feel actually quite
strongly about this. Our troopers don't get to quit, and I don't think that
commanders should contemplate that, again, as any kind of idle kind of action. That
would be an extraordinary action, in my view.
And at the
end of the day, this is not about me, it's not about an individual commander,
it's not about a reputation. This is about our country. and the best step for
our country, with the commander- in-chief having made a decision, is to execute
that decision to the very best of our ability, to do everything I can during
the remainder of my time as commander of ISAF to enable General Allen then to
take the effort forward and then, if confirmed, to be the director of the
Central Intelligence Agency, to do everything I can from that position with
that great organization to support the effort as well.
SEN.
LEVIN: I think that's well put, and it's -- very reflective of your character. You
are a man of extraordinary honor and we all are in your debt.
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