The President & Secretary of Defense are already the "War Czars"

[Solly Mack]

in as much as anyone within the executive office is a "war czar" or czars.


SDef

"The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy adviser to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct concern to the Department of Defense, and for the execution of approved policy. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction and control over the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense is a member of the President's Cabinet and of the National Security Council."

Office of the Secretary of Defense and Offices under the Secretary of Defense


Bush wants 'war czar' for Iraq

"The "war czar" would report directly to Bush and national security adviser Stephen Hadley and co-ordinate policy with agencies like the Pentagon and the state department, which at times have their own competing agendas."

Note the language: "The "war czar" would report directly to Bush and national security adviser Stephen Hadley" - Congress seems to be missing from that equation.



Factor in this : The Secretary of Defense releases an Annual Report to the President and the Congress - per statutory requirement - U.S.C. Title 10

A "war czar" that reports directly to the President and Hadley can potentially by-pass Congress. Secretary of Defense Gates would still have to release an annual report to Congress - BUT - there's no guarantee that the actions of a "war czar" would make it into such a report.



Also from the article Bush wants 'war czar' for Iraq :

"There's no job description. Again it's very much in the nascent stages," Perino told reporters.

"They are considering a wide range of options," she said."

"... the White House is considering creating a "war czar" post in the National Security Council..."


Wonderful. A made up position created within the National Security Council to promote Bush's failing war policies. No job description leaves the potential for abuse wide open.


1 - Why is Secretary of Defense Gates willing to give up the authority that comes along with his office?


And not likely to be forgotten:

Under the Constitution - "The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States"

In addition to a CinC and a Secretary of Defense, we have Joint Chiefs, Chiefs of Staff, and Secretaries of the various armed forces. ALL subject to Congressional oversight.


2 - Will a "war czar" have Congressional oversight?



A handy person to blame, yes - when the time comes - but what else are they up to with this "war czar"?


"Bush spokesperson Dana Perino said the White House was considering many options after the resignation announcement of Meghan O'Sullivan, the top National Security Council official on Iraq and Afghanistan, and the completion of strategic reviews on the two conflicts."

3 - O'Sullivan resigned, why not just fill her job instead of creating a new position?

[Shipwack]

1. I have the perfect candidate...

Time to go to "Old Faithful", the loyal dog who keeps crawling to lick the hand that beats him... who will gladly and stoically endure any humiliation... that old soldier that will -always- follow orders (even if those orders cause him to betray every oath he ever swore to God and his fellow man...

Colin Powell.

[Solly Mack]

11. Nah...Rumsfeld...it's not like he ever left

[jimshoes]

2. The War preznit needs someone

to blame for his disaster in Iraq. Wazza matta, no takers?

[Solly Mack]

10. LOL

[happygoluckytoyou]

3. WANTED: War Czar

Requirements: Must be as chip-chip-chipper as Baghdad Bob on a clear day. Must have 50-50 vision, kissing the GOP administration butts 50% of the time and kissing the GOP administration butts the other 50% of the time. Must be able to move his lips while talking out of his ass. Must understand the concept of throwing kindling on a fire to put it out. Must be able to hold his breath for 2 years, while clinging to the anchor that he is being tied to. Cannot have any compunction against torture. Would like to have experience in average Indiana marketplace.
Please fill out form. If you run out of room for felony convictions, continue on a blank page.

[Solly Mack]

4. The probably is the job description word for word

[newyawker99]

12. Hi happygoluckytoyou!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Tinksrival]

5. It's no fun anymore!

Now that his army is broken someone else can play with it.

[bigtree]

6. you hit the point exactly

Bush wants to control these agencies from the White House. They are full of career folks who need whatever independence they have left.

[Solly Mack]

7. Another power grab - concentration of power without oversight

[jerryme1]

8. Don Imus for WAR CZAR!!!

[Solly Mack]

9. We all have to get things out of our system from time to time

Kind of like a fart - maybe not as smelly...but equally as satisfying I trust