Petraeus Testimony: Summing Up Today's Hearing on Iraq

[Ian David]

Posted April 8, 2008 | 02:40 PM (EST)

Here's a wrap up of the morning hearings. Only four more hours to go...

1. Petraeus and Crocker refuse to tell us what our long term strategy is in Iraq, holding to the weak excuse that they can't make predictions into the future. But they have no problem making scary predictions into the future about what will happen if we withdraw. Contradiction? I think so.

2. Iran is the new Al Qaeda. A large portion of the questioning from Martinez, Lieberman, Graham was based on trying blame Iran from what happened in Basra. But as Senator Jack Reed pointed out the Iranians are actually supporting all of the various Shi'a groups in Iraq, including those in league with the central government.

3. John McCain still seems to be confusing his Shi'a and his Sunnis. He seems to have this recurring problem and if he becomes president and does this in some international forum it will be really, really bad.

4. Ryan Crocker continues to present a rosy picture of what happened in Basra last week, saying that it has strengthened Maliki's hand. But news on the ground today seems to undermine this claim with Sadr actually picking up support from various religious leaders.

More:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-bergmann/summing-up-the-hearing_b_95658.html




See also:

CentCom Chief Fallon: Petraeus Is ‘An Ass-Kissing, Little Chickenshit,’ ‘I Hate People Like That’
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2990081&mesg_id=2990112


http://www.google.com/search?q=Ass-Kissing%2C+Little+Chickenshit

[Altean Wanderer]

1. Thanks and kicking. Why isn't this on LBN already?

Good summary.

[calimary]

2. Good stuff.

But the sad part is, you really don't even have to watch these hearings. You already know what's gonna be said, and how much tap-dancing is going to be done. Sigh...

[Ian David]

4. No, there were some surprises.

Like the part where Patraeus accused Nancy Pelosi of trying to sap him of his essence.

[cui bono]

9. What essence would that be?

I don't see any.

[cboy4]

3. The other point brought up was how Bin Laden

purportedly considers Iraq a good place to operate out of. :eyes:

Of course, the other side won't concede if that's indeed the case, it's only because we created it by bombing the hell out of, and invading a country that was not a threat to us!

Everyone knows Saddam did not like OBL, and would never have allowed him and his terrorists to "do business" in Iraq.

The other false point brought up -- this one from that ridiculous asshole Senator Cornyn (R) Texas, was that our soldiers are dying to keep us safe. :eyes:

That's utter 9/11 is connected to Iraq bullshit.

[hisownpetard]

5. It was maddening to watch. Every time it was a Repug's turn to "question," what they did was:

a) Give a long, laudatory preface, kissing Petraeus' and Crocker's butts and remarking at length about what an enormous difference there is in the situation in Iraq,
all achieved between the last time they appeared, in September, and now.
b) Then they'd lob their softball question, and allow the Baghdad Bobs to answer in the most self-serving way possible.

I feel certain that the Repugs were assigned their topics in advance and given their talking points.
It was like one long infomercial for the war in Iraq and a pep rally for starting things up against Iran.

It's disturbing to me how much I despise these people! I can barely stomach listening to them speak, they are such a**-wipes.
God, please let a Democrat get elected so I can get rid of the hatred in my heart!

[Altean Wanderer]

7. I second that. I'm sick of the hate, suffering and death!

[hisownpetard]

8. Welcome to DU. Nice to have you aboard.

[hisownpetard]

6. K&R.