In an opinion piece at the Wall Street Journal, Iraq War Veteran, Pete Hegseth argues for the promotion of General Petraeus to "General of the Army," the highest rank authorized, but seldom awarded, in the Military. It is an interesting argument and brings to bear the question of why so few in our military history have attained the rank.
All but two were Generals/Admirals in WWII, and two more of those were promoted after that war ended. George Washington was promoted to the rank centuries after the fact, which leaves only General Pershing to be the first to attain the rank and during WWI.
General Petraeus is certainly our most accomplished General. He has fought on the conventional battlefield and against non-conventional enemies, and won. He literally wrote the book on Counter-Insurgency, which turned Iraq around. His success comes not in style of Patton, but that of Eisenhower. His success is directly linked to his modesty and realization that it is the lowest levels of leadership that fight and win battles of bullets, as well as hearts and minds. He delegates authority and maintains responsibility.
He is worthy of a 5th Star, but is it feasible?
They led in World Wars and while we are involved currently in a world-wide war, the powers that be not only refuse to call it that, they don't even call it a war. It's now an "overseas contingency operation." They're calling for cuts in Troop Strengths and looking for any excuse to exit combat operations.
If he were promoted, he would outrank every other officer in the military, including the Central Command Commander, including the Chief of the Army, and including Admiral Mullen. As such, his appropriate position would be the Joint Chief of Staff, Admiral Mullen's position. And he would do very well in that position, but it would also take him off the battlefield. There is likely a General out there that could do the job as well as he is, but no one has the public confidence that he does.
General Petraeus knows how to deal with politicians and the press. He's finessed his way with Ambassadors, beseiged foreign heads of state, and even a hostile Congress. He had the grace to accept a demotion from the POTUS, who as Senator sat back and chewed gum until it was his turn to use the General's report to Congress as a means to attack the General and the war he fought for sake of political theater.
The greatest adversary General Petraeus now faces is not the Taliban but Ambassador Eikenberry, who seems bent on undermining the very force he once commanded, and the Generals who've fought so hard to turn around the bad situation he created.
Admiral Mullen has proven himself a parrot of the Administration, willing to endorse whatever he's told to. The Administration simply cannot afford to replace him any earlier than they must. He may have been recommended by the prior Administration, but it was from the political assassination of General Pace that he rose to his position. General Petraeus would do a better job, but he's not likely to be a welcome replacement and it would be a jump in the "normal" career progression. Then again, neither was demoting a successful General the "normal" way of doing things.
It has always caused wonderment to me why the JCS is not given a 5th Star and I still don't know the answer. The POTUS could put Admiral Mullen up for it to prevent the scenario above if they were committed to giving General Petraeus a fifth star.
In short, General Petreaus is worthy of the promotion, but I doubt the Administration will consider it without political pressure, and even then would be more likely to work harder to prevent than to support the promotion. Of course, that is not to say the effort isn't worth attempting. He certainly won't attain a promotion if no one takes the time to recommend him. But at this point, I'd lay better odds on Dan Choi, despite his mental illnesses and criminal record being re-instated, with promotion, into the Army. He has the right politics and political allies to be fast-tracked in the "New Army" where political correctness is more important than tactical and strategic expertise.
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