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Old 03-27-2019, 06:05 AM
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Thumbs up Retiring Gen. Joseph Votel recalls challenges of CentCom, the Middle East

Retiring Gen. Joseph Votel recalls challenges of CentCom, the Middle East
By: Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times - 3-27-19 ~ 4 hours ago
RE: https://www.tampabay.com/news/milita...east-20190327/

Photo link: https://www.tampabay.com/storyimage/...MaxW=1200&Q=66
Army Gen. Joseph Votel, center, speaks to sailors and Marines aboard the USS New Orleans, an amphibious transport dock ship, in this 2016 photo.

TAMPA — Sitting in his MacDill Air Force Base office, with just 48 hours left in a career that’s spanned 38 years, 11 months, two days and thousands of decisions, Army Gen. Joseph Votel recalled one of the toughest he’s ever had to make the didn’t involve sending U.S. troops into harm’s way.

It was just last year, when the commander of U.S. Central Command had to tell Syrian Democratic Forces — staunch allies in the fight against the Islamic State — that the U.S. was pulling its troops out of Syria.

That moment “was a difficult, difficult discussion to have with them,” said Votel, 61.

“When you deliver bad news, it’s easier when you have a respectful relationship, and what we had in this case was very difficult news.”

He was concerned that, without the presence of some 2,000 U.S. troops, the largely Syrian Kurdish allies could be left vulnerable to their historical arch-enemies, the Turks, or the Syrian regime.

“They were far more understanding than we might have expected them to be,” the general said.

For Votel, who has led CentCom since March 30, 2016, the days of making life-and-death decisions and disappointing allies draw to a close on Thursday. He is set to retire and hand over the reigns to Kenneth McKenzie Jr., a Marine lieutenant general who will get his fourth star shortly before taking over CentCom.

TAMPA BAY TIMES COVERAGE: Gen. Joseph Votel and CentCom

Trump’s withdrawal orders run counter to arguments made by Tampa-based Central Command

CentCom’s Votel: U.S. will stay in Syria to fight ISIS and keep an eye on Iran

Q&A: CentCom commander Votel steels for next chapter in world’s most dangerous region

SOCom at 30 has evolved into small command with big global impact

As it has been for years, the 20-nation swath of territory stretching from Egypt east to Kazakhstan that Votel oversaw is in a time of transition and turmoil.

In Syria, the last dot of land occupied by Islamic State was just cleared, yet the Sunni Jihadi group remains a threat. In Afghanistan, the U.S. is negotiating with the Taliban to end the nearly 18-year war there. In Iraq, there are political rumblings that the new government, heavily influenced by Iran, will ask the U.S. and its allies to leave now that the Islamic State has been defeated as a ground-holding adversary. And Yemen, where the U.S. has supported the Saudi-led bombing campaign against the Houthi rebels with intelligence, weapons sales and until recently aerial refueling, has become a humanitarian disaster.

All this comes at a time where military decisions are at times given not by orders from the Secretary of Defense, but via Presidential tweets. That was the case last December when President Donald Trump used social media to announce the U.S. was leaving Syria.

Votel, the commander who was tasked with carrying out the President’s orders, downplayed that challenge.

“We quickly got over” being surprised by Trump’s Syria tweet, said Votel, “and got focused on the mission. The President is the commander in chief, he makes the decisions. So that’s his responsibility and it’s our responsibility to implement those instructions.

“We can think about it. We can talk about it. But it doesn’t help get the job done.”

To Votel, getting the job done in the region means keeping enough of a presence there to prevent U.S. and allied forces from being attacked. So far, the cost has meant nearly 7,000 U.S. lives and trillions of dollars.

“We can’t allow the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to come out of this region,” he said. “We can’t allow instability in the CentCom area to spill over into other areas where it impacts our allies and we have to safeguard our access to the critical waterways important not just our commerce but global commerce and we have to maintain a favorable balance power as we've done for 100.”

Votel said there is still the possibility that Iraq will not move to evict the U.S.

“I think the good news is that there have been no decisions taken by the Government of Iraq and in all my conversations with Iraqi leaders, and I’ve just been there,” he said, adding he “is confident at this point they still see great value in the United States coalition.”

But Votel also expressed more concern about the influence of Iran in Iraq and the rest of the region.

“I think Iran has a role to play in the region,” he said, the proceeded to laud the Iranian people, culture and history. But the Iranian regime, he said, “is exporting their own form of revolution. And they are doing it by providing the advanced capabilities to proxies in the region” such as the Syrian regime and Hizballah.

“That is not the activity of a country playing a positive role in any particular region,” Votel said. “We need them to stop.”

In Afghanistan, Votel expressed hope for the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban.

“I think for the first time in a long time we have a path toward the objectives the President has laid out, which is the reconciliation between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban,” the general said. “It’s an uphill path. It’s going to be curvy. I know it is going to take a lot of work, but there is a path to get there.”

The remaining military mission, said Votel, is to put enough pressure on the Taliban to keep them at the negotiating table, even as the Afghan government forces continue to take unsustainable losses and two more U.S. troops were recently killed.

“They are losing people," Votel said. "But I would highlight to you that the Taliban are losing people as well. I think it is a motivator to get them to the table of reconciliation.”

Votel also addressed issues closer to home that have affected service members and their families living at MacDill. Like many other military families, Votel said he and his wife Michele were forced to move out of their home in late 2016 after black mold was discovered, a problem that has sickened many who live on the base. Then, during the ensuing “massive reconstruction,” the general said an electrical fire burned their place to the ground.

TAMPA BAY TIMES COVERAGE: MacDill’s Housing Woes

MacDill penalizes base housing operator over mold as Bilirakis launches congressional inquiry

Combat veteran on mold problem: ‘MacDill was the worst place I ever lived.’

Air Force Secretary visits MacDill, hears families’ housing complaints

Soon, it will all be behind him. Votel said he and his wife are packing up and heading back to his native Minnesota. They’ll travel some, then Votel will decide his future.

That will not, he said, include a run for political office, or to continue serving as a civilian in a job such as Secretary of Defense.

But what he is interested in would require him to put his CentCom experience to good use.

“I’m very interested in staying engaged in the region,” he said of his future plans. “I think I've got a fair amount of experience here and something to offer and I would like to be in a position where I can help explain the importance of this region and the dynamics of this region to people.”

About the writer: Howard Altman at haltman@tampabay.com
Military Affairs and General Assignment Reporter

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Personal note:

What amazes me and many others is that our President would make an announcement of our retreat (ok pull out) without the Field Commander knowing this announcement was being made without his knowing it in advance. Chain of Command policies were never followed just advised via a Presidential Tweet to the public without notification given to the Commander in the Field - is really poor judgement. I would imagine he's done this a lot since becoming the President - The Command Center's are in shock and awe everyday wondering what he will announce at a moments notice without consultation or discussion prior to the tweets he makes? Trump not ever being an active service member was most likely the key factor in his snap calls - but here too - if he was in the military academy he should have known the protocol of the Chain of Command. Votel states he was taken back by the tweet to the world without ever being advised or consulted with - prior to the notice. I second that statement.

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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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Old 03-29-2019, 06:46 AM
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Arrow US Marine Corps General McKenzie replaces retiring Votel as CENTCOM Commander

US Marine Corps General McKenzie replaces retiring Votel as CENTCOM Commander
By: Staff Writer - The Defense Post - 3-29-19
RE: https://thedefensepost.com/2019/03/2...otel-retiring/

Newly promoted General Kenneth F. McKenzie on Thursday, March 28 took over the leadership of United States Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East including the conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan.

At a ceremony led by Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, McKenzie pledged to continue the work done by his predecessor, General Joseph Votel, who is retiring.

Votel for his part said that while Islamic State had lost its “caliphate” and peace talks with the Taliban appeared to be progressing, the U.S. military presence in Syria and Afghanistan was still necessary.

“Our forces operating in conjunction with the Iraqi security forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces have liberated the ISIS caliphate and are now setting the conditions for the enduring military defeat of ISIS as our diplomats begin their critical work moving us toward a political solution in Syria,” he said.

“It is time to bring these conflicts to a conclusion. This won’t be as quick as anyone would like, but it can be done if we continue to keep our objectives and interests in mind, trust our partners, and enable our forces,” Votel stressed.

During his confirmation hearing in early December, McKenzie voiced concern about a premature U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, warning that local forces who took over the fight against the Taliban at the start of 2015 were not ready to go it alone.

“I don’t know how long it will take,” he said. “I do know that we’re working it very hard. I do know that they are making improvements. I do know that today it would be very difficult for them to survive without our and our coalition partners’ assistance. And we should remember that NATO and other nations are with us on the ground in Afghanistan.”

McKenzie, 62, led the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) on combat deployments to Afghanistan in 2004 and Iraq in 2005-06.

He then served as Military Secretary to the 33rd and 34th Commandants of the Marine Corps from 2006-07, before he was promoted to Brigadier General in July 2007 and moved to the Joint Staff.

He served as Deputy to the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) for Stability for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from June 2009, until July 2010, when he was assigned as CENTCOM’s Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy (J-5).

He returned to Headquarters Marine Corps in August 2012, assuming command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command in June 2014 when he was also promoted to Lieutenant General

He returned to the Joint Staff in October 2015, becoming Director in July 2017.
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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