As many of you know, President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Gen. Eric K. Shinseki to be the next Veterans Affairs secretary. The PE made the announcement on NBC's Meet the Press. Shinseki is the first Asian American in U.S. history to be a four-star general and, if confirmed, to lead the VA.

For a detailed bio click here.

As AP reports:

Gen. Shinseki is the former Army chief of staff who upset his civilian bosses in 2003 when he testified to Congress that it might take several hundred thousand U.S. troops to control Iraq after the U.S. invasion. He was forced out of his job within months for being "wildly off the mark." But his words proved prophetic after President George W. Bush in early 2007 announced a "surge" of additional troops to Iraq after miscalculating.

To be little more specific, On February 25, 2003, four months before the end of his term as Chief of Staff of the Army, Shinseki told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he thought an occupying force of several hundred thousand men would be needed to stabilize postwar Iraq. The highly decorated General was truly the first esteemed figure is high office to speak publicly against the adminstration's war strategy .  Below is a video excerpt from his testimony:

This is great choice and a notable reflection of Obama's judgement and intelligence. On an emotional level, this is a plain and simple F U to Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Bush and years of Iraq policy. This is good news for progressives, more importantly great news for the country.

Further Reading:

New Iraq Strategy Vindicates Ex-Army Chief Shinseki

Shorter Bio

General Critical of Iraq War Is V.A. Chief Pick