Comments on: Petraeus PT Job Interviews

By: mike

mike — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:28:16 +0000

Rumsfeld is a "a jock and a brain"; wrong on every decision and prediction in Iraq shows the type of brain.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:22:19 +0000

Rummy wasn't really a jock. He plays squash

Yeah, but he was a champion wrestler at Princeton. He's still in pretty danged good shape for his age, too.

By: another matt

another matt — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:14:59 +0000

I'll be sure that when he interviews with me for a civilian job that I take him out for a 2 mile swim so I can analyze what type of competitor he is. Chances are he will fail. I guess that means he isn't made of very stern character...

By: Triumph

Triumph — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:53:22 +0000

Don Rumsfeld, Petraeus is both a jock and a brain.

Rummy wasn't really a jock. He plays squash, but only hardball--which is much less physically taxing than the tournament-standard softball game. Plus, Rumsfeld apparently cheats, as well.

By: anonmilguy

anonmilguy — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:53:32 +0000

I worked at Ft. Leavenworth while Petraeus was CAC Commander. I'd have to agree with James' concerns that Petraeus' style gives too much emphasis not only to being a jock -- but specifically judging subordinates on whether they are good at the very same athletic event that Petraeus is so good at. I know he raised serious doubts about hiring a very accomplished senior civilian professor for an academic leadership post at Leavenworth, on account of the person being in poor physical shape -- "would set a bad role model", Petraeus mused. He didn't seriously push the issue, but it did seem clear that he had a hard time taking seriously someone who was out of shape and overweight. Clearly, Petraeus is much more than a jock and gives more weight to intellectual characteristics than do many military leaders. But I do have some reservations about a guy who so wants to surround himself with people just like himself, or who is hesitant to believe that a fat guy could have a great idea.

By: anjin-san

anjin-san — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:02:41 +0000

A reporter once asked Bill Walsh, the greatest evaluator of talent in the history of the NFL, why he did not seem to be interested in how fast players at the NFL scouting combine ran the 40, or how much they could bench. "I'm looking for football players" he replied, "not triathletes".