Eisenhower’s Shoes

What was the accusing finger of general Petraeus pointing at among the crowd that censured the ridiculous mis-en-scène of pastor Terry Jones and his 50 crazy little people? When a high-ranked military official decides to express his opinion on constitutionally protected civil liberty issues, then it’s time to question his motives. Is he starting to think of potentially running for office in 2012?

Probably general Petraeus himself wouldn’t be able to answer this question, but the rumors caused by his disastrous moralizing intervention are undoubtedly damaging to him and to his stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. In order to fill Eisenhower’s shoes, Petraeus needs to at least reach an agreement negotiated from a strengthened position that will stop the Taliban from regaining total control over the Afghan territory (to call it a state is inadmissible, I think). This objective will be irreparably compromised starting from the moment when the holder of executive power believes that the commander of the ISAF and the USFOR-A military forces in Afghanistan is a potential candidate in the next American presidential elections.

Nothing of major importance will happen until the congressional elections in November, but in December the presidency will carry out a strategic evaluation of the war in Afghanistan that could be decisive for the course of the war in 2012. At that point, Petraeus’ potential political ambitions may constitute yet another factor in complicating what is already complicated enough.