Gen. David Petraeus, the miliary leader who managed to achieve the seemingly impossible task of turning the tide in Iraq, wasn't just the best person to replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal as commander in Afghanistan, says D.B. Grady in The Atlantic. "He is, quite literally, the only man for the job." Petraeus has "taken a bullet, been awarded Valor medals, and doesn't vote so as not to get dragged into the undertow of Washington politics." He is in the unique position of being able to "discuss the conflict without being second-guessed or dismissed out of hand as a partisan hack." In this context, President Obama should give Petraeus the mandate he deserves. An excerpt:
"Petraeus is the Army. He is the war. The fate of the region is in his hands.
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
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.