Marine General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Paul Selva Have Been Nominated To Serve As Chairman And Vice-Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Politico: The Pentagon Gets Two New Top Generals

Marine General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Paul Selva have been tapped to serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

On Tuesday, President Obama nominated Marine General Joseph Dunford and Air Force General Paul Selva to the Pentagon's top two posts.

Dunford, known as "Fightin' Joe," served as the top American officer and coalition commander in Afghanistan during the 2013-2014 transition period when Afghan forces took over operations from American troops, and is currently the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Dunford, who would replace General Martin Dempsey as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks, going from the single star of a brigadier general to four-star rank in little more than three years.

"I know Joe. I trust him," the president said during an introduction ceremony at the White House Rose Garden. "He’s already proven his ability to give me his unvarnished military advice." Dunford's selection was quickly praised by leading Republican lawmakers including Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain.

WNU Editor: Air Force General Paul Selva's nomination is the more interesting one .... politically speaking. His ties to Hillary Clinton started when she became Secretary of State .... and I suspect that if she should win the nomination AND Presidency .... will play a very important role in her administration. As to what will be the impact of these appointments overall .... their big job in the coming years will be to convince everyone in the Department of Defense to take a pay cut, to work more, and to not have the resources that they expect. On top of that .... they have numerous threats, wars, and minor conflicts to manage.

Former Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Gen. John M. Shalikashvili Dies

Photo: General John Shalikashvili

General John Shalikashvili, 1936-2011 -- Time

When Army General John Shalikashvili's became chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993, even his staff didn't know how to say his name. "I'm saying it the way the other people on my staff are saying it: shah-lee-KASH-villy, with the emphasis on the KASH," said Maj. Nino Fabiano, a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs. "But let me confirm that." After hours of investigation – and mispronunciations heard around the world -- Fabiano reported back: "It's sholly-kosh-VEE-lee."

That's why President Bill Clinton simply called him "General Shali" when he tapped the Polish-born U.S. Army general to head the U.S. military 18 summers ago. "He is a soldier's soldier," Clinton declared of the artillery officer who commanded NATO forces in Europe before become chairman, "the right man to lead our forces in this challenging era."

Read more ....

More News On The Death Of General John Shalikashvili

Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, Military Chief in 1990s, Dies at 75 -- New York Times
John M. Shalikashvili, Joint Chiefs chairman in 1990s, dies at 75 -- Washington Post
Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dies -- ABC News
Former top US military officer John Shalikashvili dies -- AFP
Former joint chiefs head Shalikashvili dies -- Reuters
Ex-Joint Chiefs chair was 75 -- Politico
Ex-Joint Chiefs head Shalikashvili dies -- UPI
Clinton: ‘Gen. Shali’ ‘never pulled punches’ -- Sltrib

Who Is Going To Be The Next Chairman Of The U.S. Joint Chiefs?

Marine Corps General James Cartwright (R), vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks during a joint news briefing with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the Pentagon in Washington September 17, 2009. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Cartwright Out of Contention to Lead Joint Chiefs -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Gen. James E. Cartwright, long considered the leading candidate to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is out of the running for the military’s top job, government officials said on Tuesday.

General Cartwright, a four-star Marine Corps general who is now the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, is known to be one of President Obama’s favorite officers. He has impressed the White House with his intellect and expertise on the modern technology of national security, including on nuclear weapons, missile defense and cyberwarfare.

Read more ....

More News On Who Will be The Next Chairman Of The U.S. Joint Chiefs

Obama passes over favorite for military’s top job -- Washington Post
Cartwright, Geeks’ Best Pal, Is Out of Race for Top General -- The Danger Room
Cartwright Passed Over for Top U.S. Military Post -- Global Security Neswire
Marine general out of race for top Pentagon job -- Financial Times
Cartwright Passed Over for Top U.S. Military Post -- National Journal
Odierno, Dempsey mentioned as possible Joint Chiefs chair -- Hampton Roads
Army general seen as Joint Chiefs front-runner -- AP

Who Is Going To Be The Next Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs?

General Petraeus and President Obama

The President's Generals -- Wall Street Journal

David Petraeus deserves to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

President Obama will soon replace his two most important military advisers. Defense Secretary Robert Gates hasn't given a precise date for his expected departure this year, but Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen's term ends September 30. The choice of his successor will reveal a lot about this Commander in Chief.

Names under consideration include the current vice chairman, General James Cartwright, supreme commander in Europe Admiral James Stavridis, and General David Petraeus, who leads America's war effort in Afghanistan.

Read more ....

My Comment: I have my doubts that General Petraeus will be appointed by President Obama to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He would be a high profile figure in a post that is usually reserved for individuals who are 'low key'. My prediction .... President Obama will appoint someone that is below the radar screen and who does not have a history that will politically embarrass the President. Who is that person? .... I have no idea.

US Chief: Iraq Needs Time To Stabilize After Fight

Joint Chiefs Chairman Ad. Michael Mullen, right, talks with Iraqi Army Gen. Riyadh Jalal Tawfig, the commander of all Iraqi security forces in Ninevah province of Iraq, Tuesday, July 8, 2008 in Mosul, Iraq. The two men were discussing security progress at a combat outpost in western Mosul where al-Qaida held sway until a recent Iraqi-led offensive.(AP Photo/Robert Burns)

From Yahoo News:

COMBAT OUTPOST RABIY, Iraq - Even in the chin-high piles of roadside rubble, the crumbled cinderblock and the eerily empty streets of this neighborhood in western Mosul, America's top military officer sees hope. But he also sees peril and an urgent need to get the economy going — jobs, services, some semblance of regular life.

"The security is there, it's much better, it's going to continue to evolve," Adm. Mike Mullen said Tuesday in an Associated Press interview after a walking tour of this recent combat zone. But if local political reform falters "or the economy doesn't get going — and here the two are linked — then I'm not sure that security makes that much difference."

Read more ....

My Comment: Key phrase ..... Iraq needs time to stabilize. After decades of tyrannical rule, wars and oppression ..... Iraq will need some time. This is the understatement of the day.