Ace of Spades HQ

June 29, 2010

Confirmation Hearings
— DrewM

Two big hearings, Elana Kagan for the Supreme Court and General David Petraeus to command the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Amazingly, neither are very exciting given that the outcomes in both cases the outcomes are more or less foregone conclusions.

At Petraeus' hearing he said that the July, 2011 'deadline' isn't the end-end.

"I believe there was value in sending a message of urgency -- July 2011... But it is important that July 2011 be seen for what it is: the date when a process begins, in which the reduction of US forces must be based on the conditions at the time, and not a date when the U.S. heads for the exits," he wrote to the committee. He stressed that multiple times that the pace of the drawdown would be "conditions based."

This of course is in contrast to Biden and Pelosi who have said that July 2011 is the end-end (as Whoppi might say).

In his questioning McCain got the general to admit that no military leader advocated for the time line announcement.

General Petraeus also addressed the issue of hearts and minds vs. restrictive rules of engagement.

"Focusing on securing the people does not, however, mean that we don't go after the enemy," he said. "In fact, protecting the population inevitably requires killing, capturing, or turning the insurgents. Our forces have been doing that, and we will continue to do that.
"I am keenly aware of concerns by some of our troopers on the ground about the application of our rules of engagement and the tactical directive," he added. "They should know that I will look very hard at this issue."

This is the 'fruit' of the Obama approach, no one knows what the hell he is thinking. Strategic ambiguity can be a good thing but not in a counter insurgency fight. One of the key tenets in fighting an insurgency is a steadfast commitment to fighting the fight. The enemy needs to know they can't wait you out and your in country allies need to know that you won't abandon them.

As always, Obama has found the worst possible option. In this case that means adding troops, scaring allies and emboldening the enemy.

Heck of a job Barack! Heck of a job!

On the Kagan front, she's getting hit on the Harvard ban on military recruiting but so far, nothing unexpected seems to have come out of it.

Posted by: DrewM at 08:07 AM | Comments (38)
Post contains 408 words, total size 3 kb.

1 I bet Kagaan has some nice hands.

Posted by: Crazy Sex Poodle at June 29, 2010 08:11 AM (ngD76)

2 I didn't know Paul Blart, Mall Cop had qualifications to be on the SCOTUS. Obama is so smart.

Posted by: nikkolai at June 29, 2010 08:12 AM (U0lNn)

3 Snark I stole from the WSJ. Two of the greatest orators of our time, Winston Churchill and Barack Obama.

"Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.' "

"I don't have a crystal ball. I think that right now the debate surrounding Afghanistan is presented as either we get up and leave immediately because there's no chance at a positive outcome, or we stay basically indefinitely and do quote unquote whatever it takes for as long as it takes."

Posted by: WalrusRex at June 29, 2010 08:13 AM (xxgag)

I do NOT understand why the GOP, other than Sessions, is NOT going after this leftard who will do her level best to make more mincemeat of the Constitution.

Filibuster, you spineless, ball-less wimps! I'm specifically talking to you, Little Lindsey and Orrin!!!

And Mush-Mouth McConnell. And a few others I'm forgetting about in my anger.

Posted by: Marybeth at June 29, 2010 08:14 AM (hBRoa)

5 "Professor Kagan, do you think that a single-payer system could be Constitutional...if it were applied to the legal profession?"

Posted by: The question that should be asked at June 29, 2010 08:17 AM (T0NGe)

6 Tenets, not tenants.

Posted by: Pedantasaurus at June 29, 2010 08:20 AM (KPT/i)

7 To bad there are'nt any Rebulican women grilling Kagan instead of these ball less wonders. Excluding Snowe and what's her face.

Posted by: YIKES! at June 29, 2010 08:20 AM (eaD2g)

"International Security Assistance Force" WTF?

Why don't they just call it the "International Patty-Cake Playing Force?"

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at June 29, 2010 08:23 AM (YVZlY)

9 Obama was on the news just now telling us to expect our troops to remain in Afghanistan for years to come.

What of the loss of Byrd's vote to confirm Kagan, leaving her without the obvious number to get the scotus job for life?

Posted by: maverick muse at June 29, 2010 08:23 AM (H+LJc)

The senator from Alabama was beating her up this morning over the Harvard DADT thing. He asked her if she saw DADT as fed law or military policy. She answered in gibberish.

Posted by: anti-con at June 29, 2010 08:26 AM (s8X9y)

9 Spare me. There are too many spineless ball-less republicans for that to happen.

Posted by: anti-con at June 29, 2010 08:27 AM (s8X9y)

12 Professor Kagan, do you think you look like Tom Arnold?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at June 29, 2010 08:27 AM (YVZlY)

13 Obama was on the news just now telling us to expect our troops to remain in Afghanistan for years to come./ listening to the Fred Thompson Show discussing the Petraeus hearings now.

Another "off the record" discussion about McChrystal, referencing no such thing.

Embedded reporters, MAYBE this is McChrystal's way of getting rid of THEM, to get off the military's back.

Posted by: maverick muse at June 29, 2010 08:27 AM (H+LJc)

Hmmm... my question to Gen Pat....

Sir; you were CENTCOM, who was in charge of the Middle East, and the Afganistan war... you are being DEMOTED to just being in charge of Afganistan... as a military historian, is it standard military practice to DEMOTE someone and keep them within the same chain of command? And please address moral implications to the Officers of the US Army...

Posted by: Romeo13 at June 29, 2010 08:29 AM (77Zbc)

15 OT: A radical liberal city in California doing just about as well as you would expect, Maywood.

Posted by: WalrusRex at June 29, 2010 08:29 AM (xxgag)

16 Professor Kagan, Do you agree with Justice Ginsberg that the primary purpose of Roe v Wade and Doe was to help get rid of "those people"? As a jew, how do you feel about the eugenics movement? Do you consider yourself wise?

Posted by: anti-con at June 29, 2010 08:29 AM (s8X9y)

17 Professor Kagan, would you say that looking like a chubby Steve Buscemi has helped or hindered your career?

Posted by: LincolnTf at June 29, 2010 08:30 AM (Um3jj)

18 She answered in gibberish.

Posted by: anti-con at June 29, 2010 12:26 PM (s8X9y)

Gibberish: It's the new logic.

Posted by: WalrusRex at June 29, 2010 08:31 AM (xxgag)

19 Professor Kagan, do you think you look like John Goodman?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at June 29, 2010 08:31 AM (YVZlY)

My question to Kagan.

Yesterday in your opening statment, you talked about Defering to the power of Congress. I know that some of my colleagues liked that answer, but as a Co-equal part of the US Government, isn't it the Supreme Courts function to put the breaks on any UnConstitutional overstep of authority by the US Congress? And please address your view on whether the US Constiution enumerates the powers of Congress, or whether Congress has no limits on power due to the "General Welfare" and "Commerce" clauses.

Posted by: Romeo13 at June 29, 2010 08:33 AM (77Zbc)

21 Boxers or briefs?

Posted by: LincolnTf at June 29, 2010 08:34 AM (Um3jj)

Professor Kagan, do you think you look like J. Edgar Hoover?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at June 29, 2010 08:34 AM (YVZlY)

23 I was just following orders. I was just following orders. I was just following orders.

Posted by: Elena Kagan, non-empathizing "intelligencia" member with a big heart ... just following orders ... at June 29, 2010 08:35 AM (Qp4DT)

I swear - when I first saw video of this woman on TV I thought, "Oh, geez - what Hollywood gossip about some transgendered whatever are they going on about now?" Oops. It's the SCOTUS nominee. "My bad."

But at least she's a great judge. What? Oh, she was - and probably still is - a hard-core radical marxist? "My bad", again.

Will the nightmare ever end?

Posted by: Optimizer at June 29, 2010 08:36 AM (acVo8)

25 Professor Kagan, do you think you look like Earnest Borgnine?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at June 29, 2010 08:36 AM (YVZlY)

26 Professor Kagan, If I had a dyke with a hole in it, would you plug it for me?

Posted by: dananjcon at June 29, 2010 08:55 AM (pr+up)

27 They are not demonizing her hard enough. I don't hear any commies screaming.

Posted by: Vic at June 29, 2010 08:57 AM (6taRI)

28 You expect 'commitment' from a Commander in Chief who's main claim to fame is the ability to straddle any issue?

Posted by: GarandFan at June 29, 2010 08:57 AM (6mwMs)

29 "Whoppi" is what Whoopi Goldberg would be called if she was a giant, greasy hamburger with all the fixings.

Posted by: Sharkman at June 29, 2010 08:57 AM (Zj8fM)

30 Professor Kagan, if Bob Costas gets double ball cancer and has his testicles removed, then refuses testosterone replacement therapy, how many weeks into his feminization should he wait before seeking employment as your security decoy? I'm thinking eight.

Posted by: oblig., premise thief at June 29, 2010 08:58 AM (x7Ao8)

31 Kagan is more of a disgrace than Harriet Meiers (if that's possible), a lefty do-gooder who, along with the Wise Latina, will do her damndest to subvert the Constitution. Ideological, inexperienced and unqualified, she is the perfect justice for notorious cretins like Feinstein, Leahy and the rest of the foul drones who believe being elected to public office removes all restraints on their behavior.

I suppose the one good effect of the destruction of the United States by Osama Obama will be the destruction of the two existing political parties.

I'm developing a grudging respect for the Democrats: they stick to the Party Line and don't even pretend to be open-minded or fair. The Repubs have thrown in the towel and care only about their jobs, perks and the collegiality of Congress. There's not a damn one of them with the Dangling Courage Units to defend the principles on which the nation was founded.

As for Petraeus: who cares? As long as the Traitor-in-Chief is calling (or not calling) the shots, we'll spend the rest of our stay in Afghanistan wasting the lives of patriotic Americans and squandering what's left of our resources on an endless exercise in futility. Can't hurt our Muslim brothers, you know; one of them might have been in the same madrasa as Obama....

Posted by: MrScribbler at June 29, 2010 09:02 AM (Ulu3i)

32 Professor Kagan, your unfortunate looks aside, if a turtle loses its shell is it homeless or naked?

Posted by: kathysaysso at June 29, 2010 09:06 AM (ZtwUX)

33 Professor Kagan, what goes best with flannel?

Posted by: dananjcon at June 29, 2010 09:11 AM (pr+up)

34 Hotair has a pretty good peice of damning info concerning Kagen and some shady report manipulation on partial birth abortion. I wonder if any repubs at the confirmation hearings read hotair?

Posted by: Bosk at June 29, 2010 09:18 AM (pUO5u)

35 I'd mentioned it in another thread, but when Sessions was grilling her, he asked if she considered herself as a progressive.

Her response was: "I don't know what that term means".

So either she's stupid, or she's lying. Of course, there's always the possibility that she's both.

Either way, it's interesting that she isn't willing to admit it under oath. Especially since the leftists spent the last 10 years trying to migrate their label from "liberal" to "progressive" after seeing how badly the l-word's reputation had fallen.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at June 29, 2010 09:46 AM (P9+0W)

36 The senate is missing one of it's beloved Keebler Elves after the croaking of Robert Byrd. Good thing Jeff Sessions is there to pick up that slack.

Posted by: barry goldwater 2012 at June 29, 2010 09:58 AM (RQaPH)

37 Seriously, people here are still all anti-abortion? Kagan's views on the first amendment and censorship should concern people more than anything else. who cares if poor people are eliminating the worthless lives of their offspring? I'd rather be free to watch porn and drop f-bombs whenever I feel like it.

Posted by: barry goldwater 2012 at June 29, 2010 10:04 AM (RQaPH)

38 So far a best-case-scenario outcome for the Republicans on this - only those drinking deep of the Kool-Aid don't see her lying and flip-flopping about whether her politics are fair game for questioning (eating her own words and refusing to openly discuss views she formerly felt were open for discussion), her alleged "reverence" for the military (I'd have gone with simple "respect," Kagan - "reverence" is piling it a bit deep) and sudden obtuseness on what "progressive" means after serving for months in the most progressive administration since Jimmuh.

Everyone outside of the converted can see her nomination is a raw political move to appoint an unqualified ideologue who has nothing but her ideology and partisanship to recommend her. She's costing the Dems political capital and more shreds of their tattered credibility with this ham-fisted performance.

So far so good.

Posted by: societyis2blame at June 29, 2010 10:24 AM (7ZyYf)

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