Thread: Bush Shifts Line of Succession To CRONIES at Pentagon

Bush shifts Pentagon line of succession
The military service chiefs have been pushed below 3 civilian undersecretaries
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 29, 2005


WASHINGTON

The three military service chiefs have been dropped in the Bush administration's doomsday line of Pentagon succession, pushed beneath three civilian undersecretaries in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's inner circle.

A little-noticed holiday-week executive order from President Bush moved the Pentagon's intelligence chief to the No. 3 spot in the succession hierarchy behind Rumsfeld. The second spot would be the deputy secretary of defense, but that position is vacant. The Army chief, who long held the No. 3 spot, was dropped to sixth.

The changes are the second in six months, and mirror the administration's new emphasis on intelligence gathering vs. combat in 21st-century warfighting.

Technically, the line of succession is assigned to specific positions, rather than the individuals holding those jobs.

In its current incarnation, the doomsday plan moves to near the top three undersecretaries who are Rumsfeld loyalists and who previously worked for Vice President Dick Cheney when he was defense secretary.

The changes were recommended said Bryan Whitman, a spokesman for the Pentagon, because the three undersecretaries have "a broad knowledge and perspective of overall Defense Department operations." The service leaders are more focused on training, equipping and leading a particular military service, said Whitman.

Under the new plan, Stephen Cambone, Rumsfeld ally and the undersecretary for intelligence, moved up to the third spot. Former Ambassador Eric Edelman, the policy undersecretary, and Kenneth Krieg, the undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, hold the fourth and fifth positions.

The first to succeed Rumsfeld remains the job of the deputy secretary, a position that is vacant because the Senate has not confirmed Bush's nominee - Navy Secretary Gordon England.

Senators have already approved Donald Winter to be England's replacement as Navy chief, and it is expected that Bush will move England into the No. 2 Pentagon job without congressional approval through what is known as a recess appointment.

Bush tinkered with the succession line in June, temporarily making England, as secretary of the Navy, the No. 2 in the succession hierarchy until the deputy's job is filled. Last week, Bush changed that, ordering that the acting deputy secretary - also England - would succeed Rumsfeld, until a deputy is appointed.

The new succession order bumps the Navy secretary to near the bottom of the line of succession - eighth behind the deputy, the three Pentagon undersecretaries and the Army and Air Force secretaries.

The secretary of the Army historically has been third in line, right behind the deputy secretary.

This story can be found at: http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satel ... 7645509161

Soooo, "spying" grows in its importance with this administration.

Why oh why does that not surpise me?

GET THIS MANIAC OUT OF OUR GOVERNMENT!!

Spying well in progress didn't stop 9/11.

Spying didn't get accurate information on Iraq.

Spying didn't get US the information that China supplied Iran with WMDs. No, we learn that from..the Washington Times.

So, sooooo far, Spying hasn't achieved SQUAT.

And don't whine about the Brooklyn Bridge deal--a fruitcake who thinks he can blow-torch it...not blow it up.....is almost laughable.

Soooo, whatever Spying you want to do, Wackident, get you a F$%#@ing WARRANT.

PERIOD.

Better yet, why don't we just IMPEACH your traitorous ass and get you off to a funny farm for "eternal evaluation"?

Yeeeah, that would be better. Much better.

Haven't read the news yet this morning and you post this one Bootsie...

...THIS IS A GEM...

I think it supports my "shutting down the leaks and whistleblowers" theory in the other thread...would be interesting to hear what Scubayon would have to say.

Mind posting it to that thread as well...rather have you do it instead of I since you are the orignal poster...

Spying didn't reveal the illegal gathering in front of Senator Stepp's house either

Spying has gotten our troops home from Iraq or stopped the insurgency either.

Spying hasn't stopped illegal alien serial rapists or drunk drivers either.



Spying hasn't stopped illegal alien gangs or MS-13 machete work either.



Spying hasn't gotten Americans their jobs back either.



Spying hasn't cured the national debt or stopped the rising povery rate either.



Spying hasn't stopped hurricanes or mudslides or forest fires or tsunamis or broken levees either.



Sooooo.....SPYING HASN'T DONE SQUAT!!!

Who wants to bet that people such as:

Tom Tancredo
Michael Savage
Glenn Spencer
Jim Gilchrist
Jarod Tayler
Juan Mann
Paul Craig Roberts
Michelle Malkin

...are being spyed on...because the have a lot of clout AND don't toe the line on the admins stance regarding illegal immigration.

I seem to recall some anti-illegal alien member of the GOP recently indicated that some messages are relegated to good ole pen and paper as they don't trust electronic comms.

Anyone remember who?

=

You're right, Judy. Spying hasn't stopped SQUAT. AND, to me it is SCARY that Bush changes the line of succession in the Pentagon from a career military person to one of his POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS. I'm sure they are JUST AS CAPABLE AS ALL OF THE OTHER POLITICAL APPOINTEES he's come up with. Let's picture Michael Brown and I could make a list a mile long. Just don't have the energy.