D.C. lawmakers maneuvering ahead of Iraq hearings

[laststeamtrain]

D.C. lawmakers maneuvering ahead of Iraq hearings
By Carl Hulse
New York Times News Service
Published: April 6, 2008

WASHINGTON — Senior Republican officials have met at the White House to synchronize strategies. House Democrats issue daily countdowns as the moment approaches. Both sides are planning major operations next week to try to gain the high ground.

With near military precision, Democrats and Republicans are laying the groundwork for the coming congressional testimony of Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, and Ryan C. Crocker, the American ambassador there.

Lawmakers see joint appearances by the two men before four separate congressional committees on Tuesday and Wednesday as a crucial opportunity to shape public opinion on the future of the war before the November elections.

"The current Iraq strategy has no discernible end in sight," Democratic congressional leaders wrote on Friday to President Bush, urging him to again consider a significant change in Iraq policy.

For Democrats, the preparation is driven in part by the memory that they were knocked badly off message during Petraeus' last appearance in September, when the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org took out a full-page newspaper advertisement that labeled the general "Betray Us" and provided a rallying cry for Republicans. Officials at MoveOn.org declined on Friday to discuss any advocacy plans they might have for this round of hearings.

Democrats intend to emphasize the direct and indirect costs of the 5-year-old war and what they see as a drain on the military, a lack of political progress in Iraq, and the Bush administration's uncertain endgame for American involvement. They would clearly like to keep the focus on proceedings inside the hearing rooms, rather than get caught up in a dispute over outside advocacy groups.

<more>

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,5143,695267821,00.html

[ThomWV]

1. The Chairman, and no other Democrat, should show up at the hearing

The Chairman should make an opening statement, that he believes that any testimony that might be given is tainted by politics and is not reliable or a rational source upon which to base legislation. He should then turn it over to the ranking Republican and leave the room.

That would change things. That would change the entire war dynamic.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I don't understand how that would help

:shrug:

[ThomWV]

3. The truth is always more helpful than deception

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. So how do they promote the truth by not showing up?

:shrug: