26


THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, July 1, 2010


NORTH from 6 McChrystal’s firing has


Serving Great Taste for Over 100 years!


Homemade Chocolate • Our Famous Make-Your-Own Sundae Smorgasbord • 10 UNIQUE GIFT SHOPPES


NEW HOURS:


10am-10pm Monday- Friday • 8am-10pm Saturday & Sunday with the Belgian Waffle Breakfast served from 8am-12noon.


Route 3, Weirs Beach, NH • 603-366-4466 Open Year Round • www.Kellerhaus.com


LOON'S FEATHER GIFT SHOP


Melvin Village Soy Candles Scented in “Laughing Loon Lilac” Located at the Loon Center


183 Lee’s Mill Rd • Moultonborough Shop Open Mon.-Sat. 9-5 at the Loon Center


All proceeds benefit LOON research and protection in NH


5% OFF Your Purchase


with This Ad 476-5666


info@loon.org www.loon.org


been likened to President Abraham Lincoln’s re- placing George McClellan during the Civil War and President Harry Truman’s sacking Douglas MacAr- thur in the midst of the Korean War. Not accu- rate. Both McClellan and Mac-


Arthur vocally opposed the stated policies and strate- gies of their presidents. That’s not what happened here. In announcing he had “accepted” his battlefield commander’s resignation, Obama acknowledged that he and McChrystal “are in full agreement about our strategy.” This week’s fir- ing was simply political theater designed to en- hance Obama’s stature as a “leader” in the eyes of his supporters and critics. Obama suffers from de-


cision-deficit disorder. He routinely is described as detached, disengaged, am-


bivalent and uncertain in everything from the econo- my to securing our borders to the Gulf oil spill to the war itself. He has been un- able or unwilling to name our radical Islamist en- emies or define victory. He is the only commander in chief to announce a dead- line for withdrawing troops while committing more Americans to combat. McChrystal was relieved


because a thin-skinned president couldn’t take criticism in the press and needed to prove he’s the boss. The intemperate published remarks made by McChrystal and his staff in Rolling Stone pro- vided an opportunity for Obama to show his left- wing base that he is in charge. The task of commanding


Lights on The Lake Sat. July 3, from Weirs 7PM


140,000 U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan now falls on the shoulders of Gen. David Petraeus. In accepting the assignment, Petraeus has not only stepped down from the more senior post as head of U.S. Central Command but also been thrust into the role of “America’s only competent general.” One critic suggested, “He’s very good, but it does make us


look like we’re a banana republic.” Another, a se- nior officer, said, “Petraeus has accepted ‘mission im- possible’ -- herding coali- tion cats, getting the co- operation of a completely corrupt regime in Kabul and meeting the often con- flicting expectations of an inept regime in Washing- ton.”


Leading the unruly coali-


tion in Afghanistan may well prove to be far more challenging than what Petraeus had to do in Iraq from 2007 to 2008. In Baghdad, he had a close working relationship with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the respect of other coalition leaders, a supportive and united White House, and back- ing from a bipartisan co- alition in Congress. The command in Kabul offers few of these advantages, for the O-Team is nearly incapacitated by internal rivalries and enormous egos.


“Why would Gen. Petra- Sponsored by Sun, July 4, from Weirs 7PM


Fireworks Party Cruise


Annie & The Orphans $10 discount for 60+


Rock, Roll, & Remember


Mon, July 5, from Weirs 6PM


Scenic Cruises from Weirs Beach daily


Sunday Brunch w/Jazz


from Alton Bay & Weirs cruiseNH.com • 366-5531


Also, Don’t Forget Saturday’s Market at City Hall!


3-7 p.m. • Thursdays thru Oct. 7th


Municipal Parking Lot Downtown Laconia Vegetables • Bread • Local Meat • Eggs


Raw Milk • Flowers • Wine • Photography Note Cards • Crafts • Soaps Live Entertainment • Jewelry


eus take what amounts to a demotion?” I asked. The answer, from an admirer, was revealing: “He was selected because he is a proven commodity. Every- one knows Petraeus is a battle-tested commander and a patriot. In Iraq, he showed how to work every military, diplomatic and political angle necessary to get the job done. By tak- ing the evidently thank- less job in Kabul, he just guaranteed he will be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” Perhaps. But first, Petra-


eus has to persuade this commander in chief to say “victory.” He has a year to do it.


Oliver North is the host


of “War Stories” on Fox News Channel, the founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance, and the author of “American Heroes.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64