Obama passes over favorite for military’s top job

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, considered a front-runner to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was told by President Obama over the weekend that he was no longer being considered for the position, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

The president could announce a replacement for Adm. Mike Mullen, who is in the final months of a four-year assignment as chairman, as soon as next week, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to talk about internal administration discussions.

It is not clear who Obama will select to be his top military adviser, but two Army generals with extensive combat experience in Iraq are said to be under consideration: Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, who recently began a tour as Army chief of staff, and Gen. Ray Odierno, who served as the top U.S. commander in Iraq and is currently overseeing the closure of U.S. Joint Forces Command.

That Dempsey is being considered for the chairman’s job just weeks after he was sworn into a different post suggests that the process of choosing the next chairman has hit an unexpected snag. White House and Pentagon spokesmen both declined to comment Tuesday on the upcoming personnel moves.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/obama-passes-over-favorite-for-pentagon-top-job/2011/05/24/AFF13qAH_story.html

[Ikonoklast]

1. That little thing with one of his aides probably did him no good.

Even though he was cleared, it showed questionable judgment on his part.

[Thrill]

2. That is a surprise. He seems to do a lot of events

with First Lady Obama. He seemed close to them. Very surprised he wasn't the one to get it.

[leveymg]

3. Why isn't Mullen being re-upped? Until Bush/Cheney fired Pace over Iran, that was traditional.

What's going on?

[Thrill]

4. I thought he wanted to retire?

[leveymg]

5. That's usually the way that JCS Chairs are replaced. Link?

Pace refused to retire but wasn't reappointed. That was very unusual.