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Gateway Pundit offers some breadcrumbs that lead to The Weekly Standard. Juicy tidbits:
Petraeus will also be addressing the commissioning ceremonies for Harvard and MIT ROTC. THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned that General Petraeus is planning on delivering the commencement address at the University of Iowa in 2010. Hmmm.It seems like the POTUS and VP need to have a good balance of domestic/foreign policy chops. Palin/Petraeus 2012, anyone?
Besides the speech itself, the other interesting thing will be watching the Frum/Douthat/Brooks Axis of Wobbly try to explain that the classical American values which a Petraeus will likely espouse are somehow passed into history. Trade courage for nuance, freedom of action for the warm arms of the state, the traditions that made you strong for some nebulous abstraction.
Even if the schedule changes in the next year, and Petraeus doesn't actually make this speech, the good General has already made my day.
NOTE (RSM): Full disclosure: Smitty's a Navy veteran. To anyone complaining of anti-Army bias in this post, I say, "Ethics, schmethics"!
Statement by the US Central Command Public Affairs Office:
ReplyDeleteContrary to several recent blogs, General David Petraeus, the Commander of the US Central Command, has not been asked to speak at a university commencement in Iowa in 2010 and has no plans to do so.
It us unclear where this rumor started, but it is not accurate.
Furthermore, General Petraeus is not planning to run for President in 2012. He has repeatedly stated that he feels very privileged to have been able to serve our country in uniform and that he would like to continue to do so as long as those above him want him to serve.
When he retires, he has no intention of seeking political office.
In response to questions about presidential aspirations, General Petraeus has often asked questioners to recall General Sherman’s response to similar queries in the late 1800s. Sherman said, “If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.” That remains General Petraeus' response as well.
@Erik,
ReplyDeleteLong ago, during the '08 campaign, RSM had that famous Sherman-ism as the subtitle for this blog.
So at least Petraeus is in good company.
One can hope the good general is open to a change of mind at a suitable point in the future.