CONFRONTATION BREWING? - AT 10:44 A.M. ET:  Reader Joseph J. Gallick refers us to a little-noticed piece reporting that General David Petraeus is placing himself squarely behind the Afghanistan strategy of General Stanley McChrystal, setting up a possible confrontation with the White House:

WASHINGTON -- Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, says he endorses Gen. Stanley McChrystal's strategy in Afghanistan.

The Afghan assessment is contained in a confidential report prepared by the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post. The thrust of McChrystal's assessment is that without more troops by next year the eight-year-old conflict could result in failure.

Speaking at a conference of military and civilian counterinsurgency experts, Petraeus said the current multi-dimensional approach is the only way to fight terrorism in Afghanistan, the Voice of America reported. He said Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen also has endorsed McChrystal's assessment, the report said.

"To counter terrorism, and I'm talking about terrorism writ large, extremism, requires more than just your special mission unit forces," Petraeus said. "It really requires a whole of governments, counterinsurgency approach. Many different government agencies, civil-military partnerships and, again, a comprehensive approach to these problems is the answer."

COMMENT:  Watch Petraeus carefully.  There have been rumors in recent weeks that Gen. McChrystal might resign if his recommendations are not followed, but McChrystal himself threw water on those.

However, Petraeus is taking a risk in endorsing McChrystal's recommendations at a time when they're coming under fire and ridicule from elements in the Obama administration.  It's being widely reported that the president wants to find an alternative route that will not involve sending more troops.

Why would Petraeus give such a public endorsement to a strategy that is being trashed by Obama leaks every day?  We can only speculate, but I've felt for some time that Petraeus has political ambitions.  A resignation in protest is a great way to get started in the opposition party.  I stress that this is pure speculation, and I do not base it on any inside knowledge.

I also stress that many military officers find the transition to politics uncomfortable, as Wesley Clark found out.  The language of the military and the language of politics are different.  But, still, I urge you to watch Petraeus.

September 26, 2009