BloggeRhythms

In USA Today, Susan Page writes about Leon Panetta’s new book, Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace. In the text, the author argues that “decisions made by President Obama over the past three years have made that battle more difficult — an explosive assessment by a respected policymaker of the president he served.”

 

Though not published until tomorrow by Penguin Press, the book’s already provoked rebukes at the State Department and by Vice President Biden. But Panetta says he was determined to write a book that was "honest," including his high regard for the president on some fronts and his deep concern about his leadership on others.

 

Panetta claims that, “By not pushing the Iraqi government harder to allow a residual U.S. force to remain when troops withdrew in 2011, a deal he says could have been negotiated with more effort, that "created a vacuum in terms of the ability of that country to better protect itself, and it's out of that vacuum that ISIS began to breed." 

 

Additionally, “By rejecting the advice of top aides — including Panetta and then-secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton — to begin arming Syrian rebels in 2012. If the U.S. had done so, "I do think we would be in a better position to kind of know whether or not there is some moderate element in the rebel forces that are confronting (Syrian President Bashar) Assad."

 

And finally, “By warning Assad not to use chemical weapons against his own people, then failing to act when that "red line" was crossed in 2013. Before ordering airstrikes, Obama said he wanted to seek congressional authorization, which predictably didn't happen.”

 

After reading Mr. Panetta’s comments, and considering the timing of his book’s release, the question for me becomes: Why do it now, a month before the mid-term elections? 

 

The most logical answer is that, considering Mr. Panetta's background and affiliations, the odds are this may very well be an attempt to help Bill Clinton’s wife in her bid for the presidency of the U.S. Because in addition to mentioning her specifically while discussing the arming of Syrian rebels, he also said in the interview that, “[S]he would be a "great" president. One thing about the Clintons is, they want to get it done," he says, in words that draw an implicit contrast with Obama. "When it comes to being president of the United States, it's one thing to talk a good game. It's another thing to deliver, to make things happen."

 

Now, as far as Mr. Panetta himself goes, “At first a moderate Republican, he worked in the Nixon administration before being pushed out after aggressively enforcing civil rights laws. He changed parties, was elected to nine terms in the House from California as a Democrat and served as chairman of the House Budget Committee. Clinton appointed him Budget director, then moved him to White House chief of staff to impose order in what had been a chaotic operation. After the 2008 election, Obama tapped him as CIA director, then named him to head the Pentagon.”

 

So, he has an extensive and impressive background which makes one think that he might very well have been offered a top job in a Clinton administration next time around if Bill’s wife wins, such as her VP. 

 

The only visible drawback is his age which is 76. However, Bill’s wife is a tired old bag too.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios