What's next for Petraeus...

From the Political Wire:

The New York Times notes that General David Petraeus no longer has "one of the biggest voices at National Security Council meetings" as President Obama seeks a broader range of advice on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan than did former President Bush.

[...]

"The change has fueled speculation in Washington about whether General Petraeus might seek the presidency in 2012. His advisers say that it is absurd -- but in immediate policy terms, it means there is one less visible advocate for the military in the administration's debate over whether to send up to 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan."

I think it's one helluva stretch to consider his lesser role under Obama an indication of his Presidential ambitions. To infer such a claim, a potential candidate needs to make some kind of move that is indicative of someone considering the Presidency.

Which is exactly what we were talking about here on 3BP back in March:

Per The Weekly Standard, Gen. Petraeus, the architect of the US Military's surge in Iraq, has accepted an invitation to deliver the commencement address at the University of Iowa in 2010.

Now if you consider the fact that he has no past connection to Iowa, it's an interesting speech to accept, and one he had to know would turn heads.

Petraeus could be an interesting prospect if things in the region begin to sour. There is a reported schism between him and the President regarding Iraq/Afghanistan strategy, and the General would clearly be an intriguing alternative.

I'll give Petraeus a year. As much respect as his military resume provides, a Presidential candidate in this modern political environment needs time to show he knows more than defense and foreign policy. He'll need time to speak across the nation and on Sunday morning talk shows about domestic issues in order to give voters at least an indication that he is prepared to speak beyond his comfort zone on issues of importance to them in their everyday lives.

If he resigns and makes this effort, his candidacy is virtually assured.

After all, he does call New Hampshire home.