YOUR COMMENTS

Just so everyone knows Springfield is such a small town...that we don't even have a store in town...but the lake is such a beautiful place to go to. Heck, I've lived in Springfield my whole life and didn't even know about this. But I did know the Downey's and have been inside the house.
- Denise Brock, Springfield, NH

A strategy is generally considered to be a greater or larger thing than a tactic. You should have one clear strategy but maintain multiple flexible tactics.

Rumsfeld's 1st failed strategy of "shock and awe," (promising fast & easy complete military victory,) enticed Bush to put us in Iraq, using for cover the untrue sales pitches that Iraq was involved in 911, and or posed an immediate threat.

When Bush finally faced reality, we changed to his 2cd strategic failure, "military occupation until victory." Both strategies were wrongheaded to begin with, and both were poorly planned and executed. That's two failed strategies for one invasion!

The "Surge" is an improved TACTIC (yes improved,) of the still useless occupation STRATEGY. We should not, and I'm sure Gen Petraeus does not now or ever want us to, pin his good name onto either of the Rummy/Bush failed strategies.
- Andrew Tole, Nashua

General you make us all proud
- Mike, Auburn

Other than hyenas and certain species of slime worms, are there any more distastefull animals on the planet than liberal moonbats ?

Judging by the anti-Petreus comments, I would have to say no.

Note to the clueless: The "lipstick on a pig" bit became old and stale, at least two weeks ago.

Welcome home General. Good luck, and thank you.
- Michael Paradis, Manchester

Petraeus is not above criticism. He's a defense department employee under civilian government. If you recall Colin Powell was the last great hero, and he was sent to the UN with a bundle of lies to read by Bush, a shameful act of abuse of our military.

Bush's misbegotten strategy of invading Iraq can't be fixed by lionizing the good general so stop bothering. It is an insult to the generals who told Bush the truth and were fired to go overboard on Petraeus, and I'm sure he would agree in private. Like a good soldier he obeys his commander and keeps his private thoughts private.

The surge is indeed lipstick on a pig, it couldn't be put better than that!
- Tom Labrie, Rochester

god bless the general,god bless america
- richard d houle, .

Leave it to a moonbat, suffering from severe Bush Derangement Syndrome to turn a very nice, fun read into a politically charged vehicle by virtue of a nonsensical screed.

Luckily, Petraeus is not General Patton. Patton was right for his day, but exacted massive casualties on his enemies and his own. Petraeus, by contrast, likely would not be a good choice for WWII or anything earlier.

It is also a mistake to call the Surge merely a tactic. With anti-insurgency efforts including the Iranian border and all of Iraq, a political solution, facilitating humanitarian aid, increased training for civil law enforcement and using Iraqi troops as the lead wherever possible, it was more in line with the broad board approach of a strategy. The direct targeting of “hot zones” and killing of terrorists was the tactical aspect of the Surge.

This of course, was what John McCain was talking about regarding Obama (and I guess most of his supporters) and his lack of understanding between tactics and strategies.

That aside, to denigrate a great leader merely because you dislike his boss is typically classless. I wish some would start practicing the “give peace a chance” mantra. It is amazing how so many of these “can’t we all just get along” types are so hate filled, unbalanced and surly.

I guess we all understand now why the General does not vote.
- William Simpson, Concord

Paul Gagne, Iraq, if you collect your thoughts for a minute you may realize that WW ll was a much different story. The Generals you call into question had no idea of the outcome. Our very existence depended on them. Today we can walk away from Iraq if we chose and not lose our nation. If it were not for WW ll Generals, soldiers, sailors, airmen and the people, yes the people made a sacrifice too, we would not be as we are today. And I will bet that Gen Petraeus knows that better than anyone.
Leno, Raymond
- Leno Hebert, Raymond

Tom,
Get a dictionary. There is not a huge difference between a tactic (even if you use all caps.) and a strategy.
There is a huge difference between a TICTAC and a strategy though.

Of course poor you will never be famous for anything except having your name on this page.
- Bob Londonderry, Londonderry

Job well done Sir, welcome home.
Please be sure to say a heart felt thank you to your family too. We trust they were with you through thick and think--again, Job well done!
Abegal Adams

PS
Could you put in a good word for us in our State to get a fully funded VA Hospital too. We could sure use a bit of help in that effort!! God Bless
- abegal, Bedford

Gen. Petraeus,

"Welcome Home"(NH) and Thank you. To ALL the War Fighters that protect our Country..Thank You.

Sorry for the lack of leadership here at home and often the poor attitude and lack of understanding of we, the people.

Semper Fi

Bob,
Meredith
- Bob Jones, Meredith

I hope David gets a chance to boat, fish and enjoy himself when he visits home.

I hope he goes to the dump, stops at the village store for the paper, and a cup of coffee, and his only struggles here are getting the dock in and out, after and before ice covers the lake.

I hope the NH press in spite of knowing his local haunts realizes that he too need "down time" to watch the sunrises, the sunsets, and the fog rolling across the lake.

David, may we never meet, unless it's to compare fishing notes as I paddle by you, never knowing who you are. You have chosen well; an out of the way spot, on a small lake, in a small town, in a small State where you may truly enjoy the finest things in life.
- Bob, Francestown

Thumbs up to the General!

He sounds like someone I'd enjoy going fishing with.

I agree with Rich from Concord - perhaps he could sweep out those in our giverment [sic] who many now feel are there to undermine our country.
- Brian, Litchfield, NH

General Petraeus was able to switch to COIN (counterinsurgency) warfare very early in the Iraq War in northern Iraq. He had the 'vision' of what was happening and was able to change the way we were fighting the battle. He has saved untold numbers of Coalition and Iraqi personnel/civilians with his leadership! We need a guy like that in the White House.
- Mike, Goffstown

I know Officers who served under his command in the 101st in Mosul. They have nothing but praise for his leadership. Gen Petraeus was tapped by Bush because he literally wrote the book on counter insurgency operations. Mosul was a relatively peaceful city when the 101st was there. It didn't erupt until after they redeployed home.

Tom - put down the Obama talking points and face reality. You might want to read Michael Yon's book about the surge as well and learn a few things before ranting again.
- Tom, Merrimack

Paul, thanks for your service and sacrifice.

Pete
B Troop 7/17 Cavalry (air)
RVN
- Pete, Swanzey

Good thing Gen Petraeus isn't Patton. We would have the highest casualty rates since the onset of OIF, we would be invading Iran next week and we'd still be stalled in Anbar. Thanks to Gen Petraeus we have excellent relations with our Iraqi counterparts, Anbar province has been turned over to the Iraqis and our casualties are way down from pre-surge numbers. Old Blood & Guts could have taken some lessons from Gen Petraeus and maybe saved some lives instead of failing miserably in Metz and wasting the lives of many young Americans. Perhaps Gen Petraeus had the vision to realize a surge was relevant and necessary rather than to just abandon the fight... I wonder if Tom realises that every major conflict in the 20th century was mismanaged by Democrats? Vietnam had more than 10 times the casualites suffered during OIF and ended in failure. Korea at least 6 times the casualties and ended in a draw. Should I mention WWI & II where millions of Americans were killed and wounded whilst our military struggled to regain the semblance of a professional force to be reckoned with? Oddly the one conflict of the 20th Century not mismanaged from the start was the Gulf War which was won in the matter of weeks with fewer casualties than would have been suffered by servicemembers in auto accidents during the same period back here in the states. I'm with Pete, have some coffee and take some tranquilizers...
- Paul Gagne, Iraq

Maybe the Gen. should be in sharge of getting all of the insurgence out of the Senate. You know the ones who are taking money from lenders and then not regulating them. Like Dodd, Obama, and Frank.
- Rich, Concord

Wow, Tom. So much hatred so early in the morning? I'm not sure the article refers to him as Patton, it's just about him being from NH.

Ease up, have some coffee. Maybe add a little whiskey to it to fight off that BDS effect.
- Pete, Swanzey

He's only famous because Bush used him as a tool to push his inane surge TACTIC (not a strategy, a tactic.) Many others could have been appointed, and many others fell rather than go along with Bush's egotistical mismanagement. I'm glad he's enjoying himself in NH but he's not Patton.
- Tom, Rochester