Whispers are swirling around the political opportunities ahead for Gen. David Petraeus, who oversees the U.S. military in the Middle East and Central Asia, writes Max Fisher in The Atlantic. Will the popular commander, a registered Republican, run for president some day? The general's recent determination that "the time has come" to reconsider the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military is just one indication of his "surprisingly liberal politics." Here's an excerpt:
"General David Petraeus can't even travel to his home state of New Hampshire anymore without raising another round of 'Will he run for president in 2012?' talk. It's not hard to see why. As chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Petraeus oversees all U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, giving him the executive experience governors only dream of and the gravitas of five senators. Military officials generally join up with the GOP if they enter politics, and Petraeus is indeed registered as a Republican....
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
July 7 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday's political cartoons include Medicaid cuts, a black eye for Paramount, and FEMA funding
-
Cocktail of the summer: the Hugo spritzThe Week Recommends The refreshing elderflower-based tipple is giving Aperol a run for its money
-
How the Erin Patterson mushroom trial caught the world's attentionIn the Spotlight Australian woman who laced beef wellington with deadly mushrooms found guilty of murder
