Petraeus on the Hill; Dems can’t control Code Pinkos; Idiot Sen. Levin calls Petraeus “Admiral;” Update: Petraeus recommends 45-day pause on troop reductions in July; Update: Aggressive Levin heckles Petraeus, allows outside heckler to pile on; Update: Sen. Lieberman lashes back at “See no progress” Democrats; Update: Another McCain Shia/Sunni flub?; Update: Petraeus slides added
Scroll down for updates/liveblogging of hearing…2:45pm Eastern. I’m adding some of the key slides Gen. Petraeus used in his testimony (thanks to Jack Holt). Click to enlarge:
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Want to send a thank-you card to Gen. Petraeus? Click on the envelope to sign:
Testimony starts at 9:30am. You can get the C-SPAN livestream here.
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As Gen. David Petraeus heads to Capitol Hill, Bill Ardolino’s five-part series on political progress in Iraq– in the executive and legislative branches, on budget and oil legislation, the Unified Retirement Law, de-Baathification reform, the General Amnesty Law, the referendum on Kirkuk, the Provincial Powers Act and the Provincial Elections Law–is definitely worth your time. There will be so much sound and fury from Democrat demagogues who know nothing of what’s actually going on on the ground. See also my year-in-review piece on the surge, the military, and the media–from which I draw again on this telling reminder of a Fox News poll in mid-January 2007 that exposed which Americans were rooting for success and which Americans were rooting for defeat:
The RNC put out a video on “Politics vs. Petraeus:”
The WSJ editorializes on the Petraeus effect:
General Petraeus and his chief deputy, Lieutenant General Ray Odierno, pursued a strategy that secured the population while going on offense against al Qaeda. U.S. and Iraqi troops moved into neighborhoods and lived among Iraqis, who in turn began to supply valuable intelligence about the terrorists. Faster than even the surge’s architects hoped, the strategy led to far less violence.
While Democrats still claim political progress is possible only if the U.S. leaves Iraq, the surge has proved the opposite. Better security required a larger U.S. presence, which in turn has made Iraqis feel more secure about compromise. The political progress has been especially significant at the local level, with greater cooperation from tribal leaders and local councils, most Sunnis saying they’ll participate in provincial elections this fall, and more oil money flowing to the provinces from Baghdad.
Much remains to be done, of course, and a premature U.S. withdrawal would put these gains at risk.
Milblogger/documentarian JD Johannes has condensed “Anbar Awakens” to give the public and interested parties a more tangible view of the effects of the troop surge:
Vets for Freedom is headed to DC after a 14-city nationwide tour. Here’s a Newsbusters interview with Pete Hegseth.
VFF “will hold America’s single largest gathering of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Participants will gather for a rally and media event and meet with their representatives to express their first hand experiences and explain why it is essential to complete the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
When: 9:30am-11am
Where: Upper Senate Park
Meanwhile, Mookie has called off his “Million Man March” in Iraq.
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Blackfive has a fabulous tribute to Navy SEAL Mike Monsoor, whose family will receive his Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony today. More here.
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Update 9:46am. McCain speaks. “We owe a great debt of gratitude” to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. “Success…is within reach.”
9:50am. Code Pinkos interrupt. Just like last time.
9:55am: McCain: “Congress must not choose to lose.” USAToday has audio of McCain’s statement.
Sen. Levin mistakenly calls Gen. Petraeus “Admiral.”
9:57am: Petraeus: Progress has been “fragile” and “reversible,” but “better than it was.” Sunni communities have increasingly rejected Sunni Al Qaeda. Awakenings have prompted tens of thousands of Iraqis to contribute to security. The recent flare-up in Basra highlighted Sadr ceasefire and the role Iran has played. Unchecked, they pose the greatest long-term threat to Iraq. Iraq’s ethno-sectarian competitions are influenced by many outside actors–a cancer that will spread if left unchecked.
10:12am: Petraeus: Withdrawing too many forces too quickly could jeopardizes gains made over the last year. A failed state in Iraq would pose serious consequences for the fight against al Qaeda.
Recommends a 45-day period of consolidation and evaulation in July (the “pause“). Make reductions as conditions permit. Does not allow for a timetable, but does allow for flexibility.
In closing: Addressing those serving in Iraq. “We have asked a great deal of them and their families. And they have made enormous sacrifices…All Americans should take pride in our men and women serving in Iraq…It remains the greatest honor to soldier with them.”
RedLasso has video of the first part of Gen. Petraeus’s testimony here.
10:26am: Ambassador Crocker testifying on political and economic gains and challenges. Political challenges: Refugees, rights of women and minorities, internal boundaries. “Iraq’s political progress will not be linear…changing dynamics within Shia community…in terms of economics and capacity building…revival of marketplaces and reopening of long-shuttered businesses…I remain convinced that a departure from our current course would mean failure…Iran has said publicly that it would fill any vacuum in Iraq…how we leave and what we leave will be more important than that we came…”
Questions from Senate panel.
10:42am. Sen. Levin calls Petraeus’s call for pause a “clear, open-ended pause.” Do you agree with Secy Gates that it would be “brief” or not? Levin is rude and sanctimonious. “He used the word brief. You are not. That is deliberate.”
Petraeus: I am not using the word “brief” or the word “pause.”
Levin: How long? Petraeus trying to answer. Could it be three months?
At the end of the period of evaluation and consolidation, it could be right then.
HECKLERS: BRING THEM HOME! BRING THEM HOME!
Levin barely lifts a finger to remove the heckler.
10:47am Eastern. Was the Iraqi govt operation in Basra adequately planned?
Petraeus: No question it could have been better planned. Levin is heckling Petraeus. Could you give me a direct answer?
Petraeus repeats: It could have been.
So this is the Democrat strategy for today: Heckle the general about Basra, allow outside hecklers to pile on.
10:58am Eastern. Sen. Kennedy takes two minutes to ask a question about bilateral agreements between the US and the Iraq and then tells Ambassador Crocker to hurry up and answer before he has a chance to open his mouth.
11:02am Eastern. Now, Sen. Windbag asks questions of Gen. Petraeus about Basra and cuts him off as he tries to answer.
Tom Elia is keeping a protester interruption scorecard.
11:12am Eastern. Joe Lieberman responds to his Democrat colleagues. Their attitude is “Hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, speak of no progress in Iraq.” I wish we could have agreement on the charts you have shown, the facts you have told us…we’ve got to give some credit for that.”
12:06pm Eastern. Bill Nelson takes an eternity to ask whether political reconciliation has happened. Guess he was snoozing while Crocker testified. I mentioned this morning that Bill Ardolino’s in-depth assessment of political progress was worth reading. The series should be sent to every member of Congress.
12:35pm Eastern. Hillary bloviates: “I think it could be fair to say that it might well be irresponsible to continue the policy that has not produced the results that have been promised time and time again, at such tremendous cost to our national security and to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military.”
1:03pm Eastern. The Left is having a field day with what appears to be another Sunni/Shia flub from McCain. Ugh:
5:25pm Eastern. Barack Obama’s turn to grandstand. He also interrupts Petraeus in the middle of his answer to Obama’s question about whether al Qaeda will ever try to reconstitute.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Jules Crittenden » “Failure of Leadership”
- Sister Toldjah
- Neocon News » Petraeus engages the enemy (er, Congress…)
- Right Voices » Blog Archive » Levin Opens The Senate Circus With Stupidity
- A Lady's Ruminations
- C-Span Should Serve Alcohol With This Crap--Army of Dog
- Bloodthirsty Liberal » Junior Scout [UPDATED]
- America’s North Shore Journal | Petraeus on the Hill, er… Capitol Hill, not Hillary
- The Other McCain: Code Pink pests
- Bear Creek Ledger
- Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » Iraq Testimony On The Hill
- Michelle Malkin » In honor of Michael Monsoor
- General Petraeus Roundup Roundup « Tai-Chi Policy
- Petraeus and Crocker Surge Update « Axis of Right
- McCain On Patraeus And Supporting The Troops | McCain Blogs
- McCain On Patraeus And Supporting The Troops » Pirate’s Cove — Global Warming Rules!
- Connections « Love, Mom (Notes from the fridge)
- Soccer Dad
- Maggie's Farm
- Get Your Red Hots Here « The Reluctant Optimist
- Perspectives « I Think ^(Link) Therefore I Err
- Sen. Armed Srvcs. Cmte. Chairman Makes Big Gaffe « Virginia Virtucon
- Hey Ignorant World - There is PEACE in Iraq! « BUUUUURRRRNING HOT
- Pro General Petraeus, Anti Betray Us Editorial Cartoons « BUUUUURRRRNING HOT
- April, 2008 Archive « Right Minded Online
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Michelle said:
Not to matter. They don’t care what’s happening on the ground, they only want sound bites and opportunistic grabs for power prior to election. Dogs all of them returning to eat their own vomit. (As Rev Wright said, that’s in the Bible only in my case it is in the Bible).
I have nothing but respect and admiration for General Petraeus,our men and women on the front lines who are responsible for getting this thing done.
For the defeatists on Capitol Hill I have but one thing to say to them - don’t be stuck on stupid. Get behind the mission and our troops. Success is the only option.
I’m with 30 pcs. ditto that.
Some of the crapweasels showed their true colors last time around, this should be interesting to say the least.
Watch and see the 15 minutes of fame guys spewing ignorant rhetoric.
Thank you for the Johannes vid.
The troops on the ground know what’s happening. Let’s listen to them and not the liberal dribble.
At least Petraeus has name recognition on his side now, so that it won’t be quite as easy to smear him this time around. Of course, I expect a good deal of grandstanding from Clinton and Obama. I’m not sure if I can stand to watch all that.
Ditto’s 30 and AJ.
Image:
John Kerry types doing his winter soldier routine.
Brain douche - stat.
I signed the thank you card to General Petraeus. I thank God every day for the service of our wonderful men and women in the military and their families.
L
Success is not an option, but the result of actions selected from options. It’s this sentiment that has turned off the majority of Americans from the word; to say success is the only option is to say nothing, and it convinces no one.
stop mubbling mpchops it’s hard to hear you with your head up your rump.
Our men and women in the military are the best! They are motivated. Congress isn’t. God bless our troops near and far.
Be that as it may, I think that the problem with this sentiment, “Success is the only option”, has lead us so astray of our initial goal, which was to protect America and, equally as important, Americans. Is our goal still to protect America? Not primarily, no. Our goal is to “win”, seemingly no matter what the cost. Because “success is the only option”. Meanwhile, the argument can be made that America, and the American way of life, is becoming less secure because of our single-minded approach to this idea of success.
Ditto 30. I couldn’t have said it any better.
I have always maintained, I don’t care it you support the war or not (it’s better if you do), but, SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
Dang it, I can’t watch the video tribute. I signed the thank you card.
Success is not an option, but the result of actions selected from options.
the 15MOF-O-Meter has started.
I’ve signed the Thank You Card that Sen. McConnell put on his website. I did it with pride and honor because Gen. Petraeus has demonstrated stalwart leadership in a military campaign that has not only been misjudged, but maligned and mischaracterized.
I thought the poll from 2007 regarding the surge was particularly striking. As a military spouse, I’ve seen how ordinary civilians (on both sides of the political spectrum) have turned against the war and the military families. It’s a tough time for military families made even tougher by thoughtless words and deeds as seen through the actions of anti-military zealots, hard left politicians, and even ordinary civilians who discriminate against military family members.
The sense of pride most Americans used to have in the US is gone. It has been replaced by a sense of entitlement, whining, grasping for freebies that many citizens think is owed them. The Iraq War is a larger expression of malaise going on in the country and the quest for easy answers instead of deeper introspection.
The military and their families deserve better from the US and their citizens. Too bad, most of the time, their achievements are ignored and they are treated like enemies.
Lead us astray… A dead terrorist is a good terrorist. I feel safer knowing that there is one less terrorist out there to wreak havoc in the lives of Iraqis. There is something laudable about these people who have joined with our froces to protect their homeland. If you do not think we are safer as a result of their efforts that’s an unfortunate line of thinking. Very misguided.
Don’t confuse what the troops are doing with what Congress is trying to (very hard!) to prevent them from doing. You sound like someone who isn’t researching for himself what gains are being made in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would urge you to do so.
Again, the troops are doing their job and they are doing a mighty fine job at that. It is the President’s and Congress’ responsibility to shore up the homefront and they haven’t done that. And that has no bearing on the troops whatsoever.
Aj,
I’m starting to get the feeling that most people just want to put the war behind them. Bring the troops home and let the Iraqis fend for themselves. How selfish and shortsighted is that line of thinking?
I hear ya sista. America used to be about freedom and we always led the way to that end (right snausage?). If you look over at the other side of the aisle, you would think the new mentality is:
Give them a taste of freedom and snatch it away.
What would you know about it or the majority of Americans? Is this assertion from actual “field experience” or ignorance?
So, I guess helping Iraq get back on its feet isn’t ensuring America’s protection, right? Having an ally in that region wouldn’t help out America? Diverting some of those billions in aid from Iraq back into infrastructure and social entitlements would help protect America right?
If there is one thing I’ve learned as a military spouse, there are no “sure things.” Deployments are messy, moves are messy, and so is the civilian and military bureaucracies that manage my life and that of my husband’s.
Yeah, I’m sorry but I neither feel no desire your support. Your words are more of an expression of inherent resentment on your part (and that of many Americans) who don’t feel that Iraq is worth the support and neither is the military. In the end, you talk with “grand words” but all they are is an expression of America’s empty promise toward its military and the latent cowardice in how America treats it.
ROFLMBO
30 & Aj, I think you’re right about people wanting to put the war behind them. Most of these people don’t know anyone in uniform (immediate family member, neighbor or close friend). It’s annoying to them that this is going on when there is so much other stuff to focus on (steroids in sports, the latest hollyweird pop tart story, etc.). When I say to these people that we still have troops in Japan & Germany and that war has been over for nearly 63 years, they have nothing to say. However, most of us who have a horse in this race feel like our loved ones do- the job needs to be finished. I don’t want my husband to go in May again but I also wished we had finished the job in the first go around when he and I were both there (we didn’t know each other than but that’s not the point), we both want the job finished. We don’t want our 3 y/o son to go back into battle in 15 years because of these wussies like Hussein Obama and the person who herself belies the willing suspension of disbelief.
As I watch this, I see some protestors getting up and facing their back towards the General. They have absolutely no respect for the General and Ambassador and sorry that Levin can’t tell an Army uniform from a Navy uniform.
I also signed the Thank You as well. It’s the least we can do for such a man as the General.
As for the defeatists here, in Congress and all around the country-go suck an egg. I have some other comments I would like to use but it’s not worth getting banned over.
Soap,
You said it. And these are the same people who extol that we should care about our image in the eyes of the global community. What praytell would they think of us if we tuck our tails and ran off? In war as with most things in life - you either win or lose. I think our troops would like to win.
emjem24
Please know, there are so many of us that have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for our military and their families, and realize the families serve this country as well. Thank You.
Hey, Soap, ain’t that a hoot?
Do you think Levin even knows the difference between a general and admiral and which service each comes from? Don’t you just feel confident that civilians with little military interaction (or experience)…. are you listening Shrillary/Obummer?…. seem to not know the difference between the Army and the Navy?
Whoever votes these people in really needs their heads examined. Oh, that’s right, Dems can make policy decisions for the military without even passing familiarity with such, just like they can for all other issues that affect Americans. Is it any wonder their approval rating is so low?
emjem,
To know the difference, you would have to care. It is likely some dum-dum wrote that and he will get fired. Too bad Levin can’t be recalled.
Emjem, I think it was intentional myself. How the heck one can confuse and Admrial in dress blues with an Army General in dress greens. Please. . .
I feel nothing but condescension from these people on the left. They don’t support the troops, and as a spouse living in Hawaii in Ewa Beach, I had to deal with protestors coming on to my private property. I quesiton the lefts’ patriotism everyday.
i agree terrig, it was on purpose.
30 pcs, sent you an email regarding #17.
I concur as well. It was intentional. Crapweasel.
How can you not respect this man? This question is for conservatives only.
Is there a possibility that there is an Honorary Admiral rank and we just do not know about it?
Mary Ann, I recognize that you and many Americans, support the military. It is just so frustrating to see the personal and political manifestations of ignorance and hate. It’s troubling on many levels and a trend, I’m afraid, that may harken in dark days to come for both the US military and country.
Of course, I or anyone else shouldn’t question “their” patriotism. Liberals and other like-minded folks can go around and savage the military and their families, but we have to “take” it. This experience makes me said and hoping that more Conservative folks in the military run for office even if they find politics and DC to be repugnant.
The military is extremely wary of politicians and civilians who think they suddenly can postulate and micromanage at the expense of the military. Then again, is this anything new?
Got it aj.
Emjem -
God Bless you & your family and the sacrifices you all make each and every day - sacrifices that you have CHOSEN to make to benefit the rest of us. ( Even the trolls… will they ever realize that? )
Hilary looks like she’s sitting there composing her next lie.
Why won’t these crapweasels just take a trip over to Iraq to see things for themselves?
What will it be this time aj, she was the body double for wonder woman?
Redeployment!
The left linking that to the election and helping the Republicans in 5…4…3…
You mean a “fact” finding missions by the left?
BWAAAAHHHAAAAHHAAAAA
Good one 30!
I’m sure he took it better than the Navy Captain that chewed my butt for calling him Colonel in my younger days in the Air Force. Talk about no sense of humor. Nice to know our Senators are so well informed that can’t even get Military rank straight more or less come up with a plan or strategy to defeat the enemy. Thank God we have a man of General Petraeus’ caliber, the right man, in the right place, at the right time in History.
Amen, Boomer!
Soap/Terrig/AJ/30,
I have to concur. I can’t watch this trumped up Dem Inquisition. I will scream, throw something at the television, and my husband will then have to replace our tv. Plus, he’ll be very annoyed with me.
I honestly think that liberals and many “misguided” American civilians do not get why we need a military. Just as they do not get why we need borders or a border patrol. As long as we have “useful chaos,” people will feel more dependent on the federal government.
Terrig, I live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia that is heavily Navy. There is a lot of resentment/intolerance toward military personnel and their families (this also includes northern North Carolina). The problem is if you close down a base like Norfolk just watch your economy dry up in a heartbeat.
Whether or not liberals and like-minded citizens want to admit it, they need the military and the protection/economic assistance they provide. It’s like biting the hand that feeds.
Emjem,
I’m listening to it hear at work. I truly wouldn’t be able to stand watching liberals do what they do best. It’s despicable.
Q and A session begins…
self-edit moment:
said=sad in post #31. Oops!
I don’t understand why Code Pink is allowed to continually attend and interrupt these hearings. The Democrats allow this to happen.
another dope. why are they allowed in!?!?
Seriously…
These idiots still want them to have a time table.
First, “the war” is a bit of a misnomer. The war was over in about three weeks, and it proved to be a fisaco since there was no WMD. What we have been doing for the last few years to to try to quash Iraqi resistance to the occupation of a foreign invading force, the armies of the narcissistic Messiah of democracy and Christian Zionist, Bushie.
Iraq is just about the most corrupt country on earth, so just as the results of the occupation were predictable, and predicted by Bush, Sr. and Brent Scowcroft, so is the outcome when we leave predictable. Only 20% of forced democracies have been successful. How many times have we gone into other corrupt countries such as Haiti and Cuba and installed “democracy” by force, only to see these corrupt cultures revert to their base nature when we leave? The Pyrrhic “victory” monkeys probably haven’t the slightest idea.
Not to say we don’t have a responsibility to clean up Bushie’s mess in Iraq, but recognize that it will cost our bankrupt nation trillions and will have no benefit whatsoever for the US, and indeed is counterproductive since by invading Iraq we lost what Petraeus would probably refer to as “the hearts and minds” of the Moslem world, and for that matter most of the Christian world.
Holy cow, he is quoting the NYT! Go figure.
All Dems care about is when we leave. Forget how we leave Iraq. It’s official, I can’t stand Dems.
Emjem, I lived in the Virginia Beach for 8 years, leaving in 2000 when I moved to Fort Stewart, GA, after I got married. I used to be married to a pilot (I do know there are many pilots who follow their marriage vows, I just got one that didn’t
)and listening to all the whinning about the “sound of freedom” from people who built houses in the flight path of Oceanna. But like you we always would wonder that if the USN pulled out of Norfolk and took all their bases out of VA Bch-what would Mayor Myra and all the other clowns do?
Levin is such an a$$ “you’re not going to give us an estimate”- hells bells he just said he can’t. Guess they want him to lie.
As for that big mouthed protestor-how the heck did these clowns get tickets and who gave them out? Anyone know-I have an idea but not sure.
Why do these idiots like Levin think that you can conduct a war as if you have a crystal ball?
“What if… What if…?”
Just more evidence that the Democrats are more about politics than leaving war to the experts…
Levin should be ashamed of himself. He’s totally unacceptable to me. My head is going to explode.
RESPECT. Dems should familiarize themselves with what the word means.
McCain just doesn’t strike me as Presidential. He has no presence and I am not inspired…
Thank you Jr. I appreciate the support you and other like-minded individuals give the military. My husband is used to all this and has a tough exterior to handle it. I’m not so lucky I guess.
We don’t have children yet but we worry about how their perceptions of the military will be shaped by a civilian leadership and society that seems so disconnected with both the military culture and goal mindset.
Now, with trolls I think you’re being overly optimistic.
Levin is disgusting. All you can read in his face is how to zing the General/Administration for deaths incurred in the war and how fast he could slam track shoes on the troops to come home with ZERO non pie-in-the-sky consideration of what’d happen after.
James Greenidge
Queens NY
Do you have a barf bag handy? You don’t want any projectile vomit getting on your nice computer equipment.
oh great here comes lumpy.
Here we go - The swimmer is up.
Hey Teddy is on-think I’ll get me some of his favorite drink-oh forgot-I can’t afford his expensive brand of Scotch. But needless to say, one could use a drink watching this buffonery. Why this person who committed manslaughter at the least, murder at the worst is still in the Senate makes me wonder about what is going on in MA even more.
Apologies to the good people who live there.
‘Hic’
‘Pulling troops out of Iraq is as easy as driving a car across a brid….
Umm… let me restate that…”
same o same o.
levin is a tool.
Emjem - I think I’ve built up a tolerance to their crapweaselness.
TK-What about Mary Jo?
Oops EK.
must.not.throw.up.on.keyboeard
Can someone shut him up? Can we get a conservative in the audience to yell:
Throw him out - Throw him out - Throw him out - Throw him out - Throw him out
Did old Teddy boy ever serve? I know his brothers did but what about the drunk? I’m still for closing Gitmo and moving them up to a prison that will be built in Hyannis.
Liberals make my skin crawl.
Killed and wounded thrown in just for effect? A$$hat
Can’t take anymore-taking a break.
The best thing the Swimmer said the whole time. “My times up”
Soap,
Yes. At least no one snickered this time at the number of troops KIA.
Anyone else hear someone else talking into their (supposedly dead) microphone?
Yes, I heard it. These people wouldn’t know professionalism if it came up and bit them on the nose.
Get ‘em Joe!!
Last Week Ret Col Jack Jacobs was on Imus in the morning…the discussion came around to Obama’s understanding of how the Military works. Imus asked Col Jacobs what branch of the service did Obama serve in. Col Jacobs repiled exactly Obama and his current advisors have no idea how the Military Instrument is used to protect this Nation. I am sure this is discussion is available on imusonair there is a archive of the discussion. The reason I thought of this discussion Imus and Col Jacobs had was because Michelle Mentioned up top that Levin called General Patraeus Admiral…uh huh.
At least if Hillary Clinton is running on her husband’s experience Bill Clinton was a Hawk…he was bombing all kinds of things during his administration including a pill factory in the Sudan. I am not saying his aim was so good.
I’m waiting for the republican outrage at Kennedy and the usual war protestors invited in by the dems………….
Get ‘em Joe!!
Iraqi political leadership doing better than America!
I love JOE!
Is it worth it? Did we REALLY have to avenge Pearl Harbor — really? How did Pearl Harbor’s attack directly affect the day-to-day lives of Middle Americans or ones in Brooklyn? Do you wait till the enemy storms Jones Beach before you “defend yourself”?
Imagine freeing whole nations in WWII with the loss of 4000 honorable lives. Eisenhower and Churchill would’ve given their arms and legs to’ve done that, and the value of a U.S. friendly power in that region is beyond calculation, just like Germany and Japan proved to be.
Alright, pull out Kennedy, Levin and company. And we hang around YOUR necks every consequence after we’re out — if such means anything to you!
One last thing. Our armed forces are GROWN-UPS, not babies in a schoolyard who must he grabbed up by their mommies from a stalking child molester. They joined the military with eyes open and can take care of themselves and don’t need “rescuing” from a war by anti-war folks. They’re the ones doing the rescuing if you can’t tell!
James Greenidge
Queens NY
Generals Petraeus and Odierno pursued the finest concepts of our founders ingenuity and proved they work, much to the chagrin and in spite of the shadow warriors busy at work undermining American interests.
Cowards didn’t win because of these honorable soldiers.
Government down rule doesn’t work, grassroots up rule, does.
I like joe also, but is it just me or does he remind anyone else of this guy..
cousin
“Some political leaders see no progress, hear no progress, or speak no progress in Iraq.”
Stick it to ‘em Joe.
Excellent post James! Bravo!
Here is Michael Graham this morning I like Michael Graham he is always on spot. 96.9 Boston talk evolution.
http://imus.969fmtalk.mobi/2008/04/08/imus-in-the-morning-guest-michael-graham–4808.aspx
Can’t view the pic. It was filtered.
Kennedy’s and Levin’s conduct during this “inquisition” is absolutely appalling! The nerve of these two imbecils. Gen. Petraeus is a man far greater their consequence any day of the week. Petraeus for President!
You go Joe! Why can’t Dems have the same amount of common sense as you? Oh, that’s right, they’re not playing with a full deck to begin with.
American citizens, is this what you want? Two elder “statesman” (and I use that term very loosely) treating Gen. Petraeus like garbage? Is that the kind of conduct you support in your senators?
If American politicians and citizens continue to treat the military and its leadership with contempt, there will be a reckoning. It won’t be forgotten and it will be remembered during election time. If this is the way Dems play politics no wonder they want to lose the war!
30pcs,
Thanks for bloviating and completely missing the point. You start spouting off about the troops like that addresses my comment. You create a straw man “Don’t confuse what the troops are doing with what Congress is trying to (very hard!) to prevent them from doing”, and then beat it down with as much force as you can muster.
Where exactly was the criticism of the troops? Seriously. Point out my criticism of the troops, even underhanded, and I’ll cease to post on this blog.
mpChops,
What point did I miss? You really didn’t seem to have one. If you refer to commenting about how turned off the American people are from the term “success” a point then, I apologize. That went over my head.
What is the point of your post? Again, you sound like someone who just wants to bring the troops home. If I were incorrect, it would behoove you to tell me. Otherwise, spare with me straw man business.
spare me with the straw man business.
I read the newspaper. Or are you of the belief that “the polls lie”? For whatever reason, the majority of Americans do not support the war in Iraq. If you are “ignorant” of that simple truth, you have successfully seperated yourself from reality. Congrats.
Emjem, I know you’re a military spouse. Everyone does. You don’t have to slide it into every post, and you don’t have to use it as a hammer to batter anyone who believes differently than you. You are a citizen, just as eye, and you’re entitled to your view, just as I am.
And your guess about how I view the military is laughable. Personally, I really don’t care what you think about how I view the military because regardless of how I view them, it doesn’t negate my point.
The military and the performance of the military is not on trial here, as much as you’d like it to be. No, what I am targeting are the decisions and goals set forth by the administration. If you are unable to see the difference, why comment?
What was your point? Playing devil’s advocate for the heck of it? Or is it your belief that you support the troops not the war makes any kind of sense?
Yes, we know you have a problem with the war. You think that the initial goal has changed or shifted. Yes, we get it.
Again, how does your problem with the war (along with Americans’ problem with the war) really help the troops? That’s right, it’s not your problem or that of other Americans. As long as we get out of Iraq, the problem will cease. Then we can focus on the “real terrorists” in Afghanistan and I hear that Obummer wants to invade Pakistan so we won’t have to think about Iran taking over Iraq. Yay! I know that fills my heart with glee.
No, I don’t think you get it. Or many Americans. War is inconvenient as long as we have more “serious” problems like GW and universal healthcare/insurance to focus on.
No wonder there is such a divide between the civilian and military spheres in this country.
Isn’t it ironic, how the very people who sing-song about “World Peace” are the very same ones, who are willing to do the least to acheive it.
rofl, that explains it perf.
“I read the newspaper. Or are you of the belief that “the polls lie”?”
Ummm…yes, they do.
To contact 100, 500, 1000 or even 2000 people and say that their responses echo the sentiments of 300 million is, at best, ridiculous.
I don’t know about you - but I don’t know anyone, personally, who has ever been contacted by any of these ‘pollsters’.
If you want to be ‘Clintonesque’ and run national policy by which way the wind is blowing - feel free.
I prefer to have people in charge in lead according to their principles, not according to what the latest ‘Rasmussen’ numbers say.
franksalterego - YES! Nail on the head.
#94 On April 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am, ajmontana said:
“‘I read the newspaper. Or are you of the belief that “the polls lie”?’
rofl, that explains it perf.”
Indeed it does, AJ.
That is such a silly sentence, one almost could not make it up!
Interesting…
Why don’t you take a trip over to any one of the following threads:
Code Pink, Troops, Veterans, Berkeley, etc… there you can view firsthand the support the troops receive from people all this great country.
There are two sides to every coin.
30pcs of silver,
Spare me the straw men, and I’ll refrain from pointing them out.
I did notice, however, that you weren’t able to find any criticism regarding the troops. As you have seen, my comments have been regarding the plan, not the execution.
I do think there are good arguments for a complete withdrawl from Iraq, and I also think there are compelling reasons to keep them there. Personally, I beleive the reasons to keep them there are more selfish to bring them home, as they largely revolve around “not being defeated”. Which goes back to my concern with a fixation of “success”. I think that we are trying to force a square peg into a round hole. We are trying to export the American dream to a country when it took us 200 years to actualize, and we’re still perfecting it. We are trying to get people who hate each other, hate each other to come around a table and sing Kum-Bye-Yah just, in my opinion, to save face. We have already won the war between the US and Iraq. Now we have to pick sides in a new war being Iraqi and Iraqi. And the goal is what? What is the measure of success now? Is our plan to convince them to come together, or dominate them until they do? The former sounds idealistic, and the latter sound vaguely familiar.
Alas, as Colin Powell said, we broke it. We broke the screwed up, blood-induced ‘balance’ that existed. We owe it to the innocent Iraqis that get blown up every day some level or security.
Do I feel that we should bring all the troops home? No. I don’t. Do I feel that we should discuss the situation that we’re in openly,intelligently, and honestly; definitely. I also feel that those who have gotten us in this position should very much be held responsible.
Another reason why I’ll never vote for a Democrat again. It must feel pretty good for Joe Lieberman to not worry about what the rest of his party thinks anymore.