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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#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.
I’ve never asserted any such thing. I’ve always recognized that many Americans don’t support the war and therefore the military. Thanks for divorcing yourself from the observations I’ve already made on this blog.
Excuse me? I don’t use my “military spouse” status to hammer anyone who believes differently. It, however, gives me a different perspective from you. You, and many Americans who “chose” not to serve because it’s beneath them, have never walked in my shoes nor witnessed what I’ve seen. I’m proud of my husband and if you don’t want to be reminded of it, then don’t respond.
Well, since you’ve never disclosed your feelings about the military, how’s about now? I’ve gotten a sense from people like you, that the way the war was conducted is an excuse for pulling out or treating the military with contempt. As 30 has said, it’s a straw man.
Actually, they are. The way Levin and Kennedy have treated Gen. Petraeus put the military and its performance on trial. Their actions make your words a mockery.
If you’re so focused on the decisions and the goals, then what do you feel should be done differently? If you are so wise, what decisions and goals should have been set?
Believe me, I see the difference. I live it… I see the lazy excuses people use to insert their “difference of opinion,” while they say how much they “support” the troops. You’re using the administration and your disagreement with it as your statement on the war at large. I get it.
I neither need or want your support. You speak out of both sides of your mouth anyway. By the way, if you’re so “solidly” behind the military, then why try to belittle the pride I have in who I’m married to? If this is support, you don’t know the meaning of the word.
Glad to know you can read Chops-you and that clown on L & O are probably great pals. You both can read and you know more than those who have, are and going back. Yeah, love these liberals. You don’t really like the military-they’re a necessary evil to you and your ilk. Who do you know that is serving or do you just get your “knowledge” from the papers, air head America and the talking heads on MSNBC?
Susan Collins is an absolute disgrace to the Republican party. Wish Joe would make the move. While I don’t agree with him on a lot, he is a good man who has all my respect.
30pcs,
I don’t let extremists color my view of any group of people. I not a member of code pink or whatever or claim that the troops are murderers. I also don’t claim that Obama is an undercover Muslim who wants to turn the US into a Muslim state.
Both views, in my opinion, have extreme, stupid, and should not be taken seriously or considered.
I find it perplexing, Democrats seem to be expecting Iraqi Forces to accomplish in 1 or 2 years, what it took This Nation to accomplish in 1 or 2 centuries.
Chops, why don’t you enlist so you can be the last one out, the last one to die. People like you make me sick. You have no clue.
jrlingreenbay,
You questioning statistics in general, not polls. Statistics says that you a sample of a population can represent the population, with qualifiers.
There’s a difference in being skeptical of every statistic and believing that the idea of a statistical analysis is bunk.
What this nation accomplished was done largely do to a civil war, which we are desperately trying to avoid in Iraq at all costs.
Levin is an incompetent fool. Admiral Petraeus…..give me a break. He and Teddy really need to retire.
Terrig,
I don’t think the military is a neccessary evil. There’s nothing evil about the military. Please point out where I implied that.
Wow, here’s Nelson at least giving a heads up-I’m going to bash you but I have all the respect in the world for you. Just like all the leftists and trolls who say they support the troops but at the same time think they’re dumb, stupid people who can do nothing else. Who the hell cares what retired generals have to say? Are they there? No, and the fact that losers like chops, rusty, lgm and the other troll companies don’t support the war doesn’t mean a thing to those who serve.
Tone is always so telling. Why don’t you enlist, go to Iraq and promise to be the last one out. You want to leave a small force there because 150K bothers you? I don’t know but trust me as one who has served, people like you who think you know so much because you can read the darn paper make me sick. You are not a qualified military commander are you? I am not but I live with one who has been there 3 times. I take his view over that of the retired Generals Nelson just named. Those who are there know, those who aren’t don’t.
I didn’t go looking for any. I just asked you to point out, what your point was as I couldn’t locate one. But I don’t want to belabor the point.
The are no half measures. If we pull out prematurely, and I don’t know if you are following the hearing that General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are currently having on Capitol Hill or not but Iran will quickly fill the void. And my concern is with their being a VOID. That means that the job isn’t finished. I would urge you to listen to what the troops, not the polls say about their mission.
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.
Terrig,
Where did I bash the military? Please point it out. A quote would be most effective.
And more so, where have I criticized execution? I think your directing your responses to concerns you have with Sen. Kennedy or whomever to me.
mpChops said:
What do you have problems with:
a)The Administration… are you hindsight quarterbacking to judge them on the “actionable intelligence” they had back then? Or is it because things “went wrong” or the war wasn’t an immediate, XBox rout that you have problems?
b) The Contractors… should we just expect that the military will be able to rebuild Iraq without help? I don’t like no-bid contracting myself and it was mismanaged…this could have been done better.
c) The Pentagon… how should the war have been conducted?
d) The Military… more or less boots on the ground?
You and other Americans seem to be second-guessing and coming up with what ifs. There are never any “absolutes” in war or the military. Yet, when something shifts in the equation, people start to get antsy. It no longer fits their “definition” of what the war was supposed to be. Things need to remain “static” or “perfect.” If that’s one’s definition of war, then that’s unrealistic.
We could have done tons differently but would it still have brought about the same result? Life is too short for such second guessing. Let’s figure out what needs to be done, do it, and leave Iraq when it’s right to do so.
CHops, if you read what I said I was referring to old Bill Nelson’s opening statement where he basicallly said, Gentlemen, I respect all that you do but get ready, I’m going to bash you.
30pcs of Silver,
So “stay the course”. Gotcha.
I have a question: Why are we returning the troops to pre-surge levels?
Emjem, anyone can play war games on an Xbox and think they can lead a BDE into battle. Of course reading the newspaper always helps too!
No, I wanted you to take a trip over there to see the support that the troops receive when unhinged liberals attack. You seem to believe that most Americans (based on a poll) want out of Iraq. I was attempting to counter that with people such as Gathering of Eagles, Move America Forward, VFF, etc…
Emjem,
We should definitely figure out what needs to be done and do it. I agree completely. But whenever someone questions what needs to be done, or what has been done, some people take it as an attack on everything and everyone associated with the effort. How can we possibly figure out what needs to be done when everyone is so opposed to reflection?
I believe General Petraeus addressed this question. If the answer isn’t suitable to you – what do you want from me?
Terrig:
What is really disgusting is that many short-sighted Americans find the Iraq War a little too complicated to understand or trying on their nerves. It must be nice to think that pulling out of Iraq will just solve all that country’s problems (and ours).
There is a divide between civilians and the military (and those who’ve served) and it’s immense and growing deeper every day.
Emjem, you’re absolutely right-the divide is getting worse everyday and people like chops & the Troll Brigade (their little military) will never get it.
It must be nice to live in that simple, little world where you don’t have to fear a knock on the door or phone call or a military sedan driving through your neighborhood.
30 pcs of silver,
FOX News Poll: Even With Surge Improvements, Most Want U.S. Out Of Iraq
Regarding the support of troops, I understand people knock them and I don’t support those people. Period. Personally, I believe that the troops are being used as a tool on both sides to push across some grander ideal. Both sides claim they’re “doing it for the troops”. Unfortunately, it’s been so ingrained that you can’t criticize any aspect of the war without someone feeling it’s a slight against the troops. And I refuse to preface every comment I make with “I love the troops but…”
I could give a rats behind what Americans who don’t know anyone or have any immediate family member in the military thinks. They’re not there. They get their info just like you, reading the paper. That makes them so much smarter than the troops. Did you feel they were used by the Clintons in Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo or was that okay with you because a dimocrap sent them there? Like Emjem, we neither want or need the support of people who could care less about them or their families.
He did, and I don’t find it suitable. I was just curious if you do. As I understand it, the reason why we’re reducing the number of troops is to ’see what happens’.
Oh the willing suspension of disbelief is on now-hold on to your lunch.
what the heck happened to cspan?
Again, yet another poll. I’m not interested and remain underwhelmed.
No one is asking you to preface statements declaring your love for the troops – it’s one of those things that eminate from you, your words and your actions, if that is how you truly feel. I don’t believe I have mischaracterized you and you can clearly correct me if I am wrong; however, I do not get the impression that you support the troops. But more importantly, it has no bearing on my support for the troops. This poll or any other poll you drum up will not move me. I support the troops and their mission. I understand what is at stake and will support them for how ever long they need me to.
mpChops, you can criticize the war but you should expect to be challenged when you make assertions that just aren’t correct.
AJ, guess they wanted to get out before Sir Edmund Hillary got on and made herself even more ridiculous.
geez, now its on fox.
lol terrig, you mean el skanky?
30pcs, that’s what I was trying to get across when I mentioned his/her “tone”. The tone suggests he doesn’t like the military, thinks they’re not too smart, thinks the General knows nothing, thinks that by reading the newspaper one knows much more than anybody who is there.
Aj, lol “el skanky”!
aj, foxnews is carrying it.
General P is casting pearls of wisdom before the Swine in the Senate.
Good show. He is superbly fit to Command and they are sadly unfit to govern!
30pcs,
It’s one of those things that eminate from you? Seriously? Where? How? How exactly does one eminate support of the troops?
In general, do you believe that a person can oppose a war but support the troops fighting this war?
thanks 30, i have it on there now, but what up with cspan? poof! weird.
i cant look at the screen though her “soft voice” is bad enough, at least the cackle will be absent…..
My tone suggests that I don’t like the military? This is getting ridiculous.
I’ll speak for myself. I don’t believe one can support the troops but not the war. That’s bs. I’m glad that you admitted you don’t support the troops, why lie when the truth works just as well.
mpChops, this is war. I defer to the expertise, leadership and professionalism of one – General David Petraeus. We reduced the number of troops because Congresscritters were asking for it and that’s what the President ordered. There are so many factors to take into consideration and since I am not there, I will take the recommendations of those who are.
Yes, chops and you’ve admitted that you don’t support the war so you think it’s not wise to support the troops. How nice to be finally honest. Your tone is telling and you can say it’s ridiculous all you want but there it is.
Wow Fox is touting the BO questioning to come this afternoon. I can hardly wait to see what old Barry has to say.
Again, the tone of your comments reflect a certain disdain for the troops. If I am mischaracterizing your comments, please feel free to correct me. However, there are several people here who notice it as well.
What’s with all of these leading questions? Liberals seem to think that it makes sense to them. I support a woman’s right to choose but I am against abortion. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. But what you do and don’t do in support of our troops is of no consequence to me.
I would hope that you would support the troops no matter what their mission is. But I cannot say that it is true for most people who claim that they support the troops and not the war. It’s unfortunate for people like you that you are aligned with people who show their support for the troops and not the war by labelling them baby killers and unwelcomed intruders…
HA!!!
Did you hear Wicker? “It would take a major suspension of disbelief to think that our strategy isn’t working.”
Good one!
On thing about this Senate committee, we get to see an unmatched collection of unpatriotic jacka$ses in full parade mode.
Thanks for the link to the Thank You card, I signed earlier this morning over at Hot Air.
One last item, if I were on the committee or in the gallery, when the traitorous Code Pinkos act up I would begin to chant U S A… U S A… USA!
JS, I missed that one. It was a good one!
zorro and if I were there, I would chant it along with you…
I don’t like this McCaskill person…
How much reflection is required to fulfill the mission? Do you not think that the Iraq War is being studied and looked at strategically and our strategy adjusted accordingly? Do you not understand that the different branches are studying the Iraq War (as well as Afghanistan) and making policy regarding both wars?
Some people use reflection as an excuse to bash the war. Reflection can be used as a tool to weigh in on what “mistakes” were made, what could have been done differently, etc. Reflection can also be used as way to assert that the war is wrong and that we need to pull out.
I have a problem with some types of reflection, especially the “woulda,” “shoulda,” and “coulda,” variety. They’re pointless and divisive.
Good for this Wicker guy-McCaskill is a clownette. I guess she could twist her face more but that botox prevents that. Now her little qoute marks-so stupid.
I would be curious to know how long we were in Germany, etc. before they started to pay? Does anyone know?
Wish we could find out how to get gallery tix but guess only the pinkos and others of their stripe are allowed?
Well, taking a break as the guys who are installing my new granite countertops are on their way.
Take care.
I really, really don’t like McCaskill…
Terrig,
We’ll hold down the fort.
30/terrig:
Don’t ya know…McCaskill is a so-called Dem “moderate.” If a Dem “moderate” acts like this then it really leads you to wonder what makes her a “moderate” in the first place.
And, the “Bring them home, now” guy, that most of us think belongs in a mental facility…
He’ll bail on an OR, go to his “crib” with all his friends…They’ll have Hendix in background, be passing a joint around, and he’ll recount his epic deed…And, all his friends will commend him for his “Heroic,” “Courageous” self-sacrifice, standing up to “The Man”…Man.
emjem,
I didn’t know that. But for me, a Dem is a Dem, is a bloody Dem.
Good Lord, could somebody please sit McCain down and explain to him the basic facts about Sunnis, Shias and Al Qaeda? The man is an embarrassment!
Bob,
I’m not certain it would matter…
Bayh,
Is an a$$ and Gen. Petraeus slapped him down with – Senator we fight for people to disagree. Gold!!!
bayh is an a$$.
No.
How can you support someone when you are opposed to what they are doing?
“I support the troops but I oppose the war” is perhaps the most ignorant statement that has been bandied about over the past 4 or 5 years.
I’m confused by this characterization of McCaskill. Sadly, she represents me in the senate. She has never been known as a “moderate” here in Missouri, it was just that she ran against a thoroughly ineffective senator – Jim Talent – and was lucky enough to run in an election cycle where people were overcome with the whole “change is good” brain-fever.
In no way, shape, form or fashion has Claire McCaskill ever been anything but a solid liberal Democrat.
OK, you have all just reminded me of all the troop bashing and such coming from OUR OWN SIDE. Please be patient and read along (from AtlasShrugs)
“Thank you for looking after my son”
April 8, 2008 – Builders of Nations- Michael Totten and Our Men in Iraq… hat up Pamela
Hey America, we’ve got mail!~ One for the books, I tell ya. G-D BLESS OUR TROOPS!
From an Australian whose son is in Iraq (hat tip Dave)
Gentlemen,
I am an Australian and my son is an Australian – as far as we are concerned there is not place on God’s earth better than Australia , and there are no people better than Australians.
That was until the past week or so.
My son is in the Australian Army and he is currently on deployment in Iraq . I can not go into his duties in great depth, but shall we say that he and his fellow army buddies are on a glorified guard duty looking after the Australian Embassy. They don’t go out looking for “action”, though it is a different story in Afghanistan , there the Aussie troops chase the baddies over the hills and into the valleys..
My son and I just ended a long ‘phone conversation and here are some of his comments, believe me this is what he said. We have all seen the bullshit emails written by some clown in his lounge room pretending to be at the coal face, but this is what was said.:
“Before I came over here I thought we (the Australian Army) were pretty shit hot….. was I ever wrong!….The Yanks (I hope you don’t mind me using that word) are so professional from the top to the bottom that it is almost embarrassing to be in their company, and to call yourself a soldier….don’t get me wrong, we are good at what we do but the Yanks are so much better…..they are complete at what they do, how they do it and their attitude is awesome….they don’t complain they just get on with the job and they do it right…..I carry a Minimi (SAW) so I am not real worried about a confrontation but I tell you I feel safer just knowing that the US Army is close by….If we got into trouble I know that our boys would come running and we could deal with it but they would probably be passed by a load of Hummers. No questions asked, no glory sought, the Americans would just fight with us and for us because that is their nature, to protect those in need of protection…..We use the American Mess so you could say that we are fed by the Americans…..they have every right to be pissed at that but they don’t bitch about that they just make us feel as welcome as possible….what gets to me is that the Yanks don’t walk around with a “we are better than you attitude” and they could because they are, they treat us as equals and as brothers in arms. If nothing else, coming here has taught me that the Americans are a truly great Nation and a truly great bunch of people…..Let’s face it they don’t HAVE to be here, they could stay in America and beat the shit out of anyone who threatened them, BUT THEY ARE HERE because they believe they should be here, and the Iraqis would be screwed if they weren’t here…..When I come home, you and I we are going to the US, we will buy some bikes and we are going riding….”
The reason why I am sharing this with you is because I realize that you (as a nation) must get pretty pissed with all the criticism you receive by the so-called “know it alls” who are sitting at home – safe. The reality is that they are safe, just as I am, because of America . If the world went arse up tomorrow there is f**k all we ( Australia ) could do about it, but I know that the Americans would be there putting themselves on the line for others. That to me is the sign of greatness.
The most precious thing in my life is my son, I look at him and I thank God that I am fortunate enough to be able to spend time in his company. We laugh, we discuss, we argue, we dummy spit, we have the same blood. I am not happy that he is where he is but that is his duty. He joined the Army to protect and to defend, not to play games. I mightn’t like it but I accept it. My reasons for not liking it are selfish and self centered. I felt assured that he would be safe because he is in a well trained army with an excellent record, BUT NOW, I feel a whole lot better knowing that he is with your sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.
Whilst he was growing up. I was always there to look after him, I would not let harm befall him and I would always put myself before him to protect him. I can’t do that now. When it comes to looking after him now he and his mates will do the job, but also THANK GOD FOR AMERICA.
Gentlemen, I have rambled on for too long. but as I finish I say to you, as a foreigner and outsider, a nation is only a collection of its people and its attitude is the attitude of its people, collectively and as individuals. I am really glad you are here on this Earth and I respect you as a nation and as people.
Stand up and feel proud because you deserve it, there is no one else who will do what America does without question. The next time someone howls you down, take some comfort in the fact that America is defending their right to act like an idiot.
Finally, thank you for looking after my son.
Peter Turner
WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!
That’s what happens when the clowns run the circus. What an idiot.
#161, I may be wrong about this but I thought McCaskill won basically on the stem cell thing because she brought in Michael J. Fox or am I confused (which is possible!
).
Bayh and Webb are both a$$es. But the good General smacked him down royally. Bayh’s old man, Birch, used to be the Senator when I was growing up in IN, I believe Quayle took his seat and Webb won on a fluke. Maccaca my a$$.
Hubby came home to “supervise” the installation. Looking forward to what BO has to say.
#161 On April 8th, 2008 at 1:51 pm, governmentdrone said:
On April 8th, 2008 at 12:39 pm, mpChops said:
“In general, do you believe that a person can oppose a war but support the troops fighting this war?
No.
How can you support someone when you are opposed to what they are doing?”
Agreed.
Good point, gov.
““I support the troops but I oppose the war” is perhaps the most ignorant statement that has been bandied about over the past 4 or 5 years.”
Yep.
That’s just a variation on the theme that the socialists/secularists used to cripple the U.S. effort in Vietnam; to shamefully scorn and denigrate the returning troops; and to influence the socialist-controlled Congress at that time to abandon South Vietnam to the North vietnamese wolves.
That stupid, annoying expression is backside cover, pure and simple….and nothing more.
That got her a few votes from the yahoos, but it was mostly pandering to her liberal base. The whole stem-cell thing was a hot potato here in MO – there was a ballot issue to allow more research with a provision to allow cloning buried deep within the wording. It caused a lot of strife here in the state and it narrowly passed.
McCaskill didn’t win by a very large margin, and I suppose the yahoo vote could have been large enough to seal the deal for her, but it’s more likely that Talent’s ineffectiveness, combined with his Casper Milquetoast personality and the fact that too darned many Republicans/Conservatives sat out the election that gave Claire the seat.
Conservatives beware: This is what you get when you decide to sit out the election to “teach the Republicans a lesson”.
As bad as it sounds, it’s far far better to have an ineffective Casper Milquetoast than to have an ignoramous who actively works against the best interests of youself and the country.
I despise looking back at that point in our past. It was a confusing time to grow up – thank God my parents weren’t hippies.
I thought that America had learned it’s lesson with the shameful way returning Vets were treated and the way that all of the war protesting basically led to the slaughter of millions of innocents in Southeast Asia. It sure seemed that way back in ‘91 during the first Gulf War. I guess we were just too darned good in that one – didn’t give ‘em time to start complaining.
Now it’s patently obvious that a lot of Americans learned absolutely nothing from the Vietnam era. I just hope that millions of innocents don’t have to die again because these modern-day hippies get their way.
Huh? “cost to our national security”? What? Is she on drugs?
I think when I said this I was being sarcastic and half-serious since a lot of her campaign platform was “I’m not him (Talent).” I didn’t mind Talent too much, I don’t think he had much time to develop into a good senator. Some people need time to become a good senator and some never will (Teddy Kennedy). Some congressman and senators are considered “good” based on the amount of “pork” they bring to their given district. I wish we would forever just get rid of pork altogether.
I never really had great hopes for McCaskill. I think people voted for her for the wrong reasons as they are for Obummer. It’s doesn’t take too much guess work to know that sweet-talking politicians usually hoodwink voters into voting for them given the right “promises.”
Though, you could say in comparison to the “most liberal senator,” Obummer, McCaskill would look like a moderate in comparison.
Now – let me say that I both support the troops AND the war effort.
That said, the earlier question of is it possible to support the troops and be against the war….
Yes – I believe you can. However, in doing so, you cannot by act or word, do or say things that are to the detrement of the war effort or the mission.
Basically – those protesters who give comfort and encouragement to the enemy by attempting to shut-down recruiting offices or say that 9-11 was our fault and calling Al Qaida members ‘freedom fighters’ – those people DO NOT SUPPORT THE TROOPS.
Their actions only embolden the enemy. And if you don’t think they do – look at that issue from our point of view. If you saw, on a daily or weekly basis, throngs of Iraqi citizens rallying against Al Qaida or Iran or Syria or any of the enemy’s supporters, would you not be inclined – would our soldiers not be inclined – to press on even more?
When our enemy sees our own citizens rallying to support them in any way – or diminish our successes, how can that NOT encourage them to remain strong and wait til the sentiment amongst our own grows weary enough to pull out and lose?
As for those who support our men and women soldiers – but dislike war and what happens in it – but do so respectfully and not to gather headlines or attention, they have my respect to believe as they will. But when they begin to erode the will of their fellow citizens through blind hatred of the administration or its policies, then they’ve stepped out of bounds.
#162,
Thank you for sharing. My heart is filled with pride. Thank you!
Hi emjem,
I should have been a little more clear – I realized that you were being (more than) a little sarcastic about Claire being a “moderate”, but sadly there are plenty of people out there that can and do think she really IS a moderate.
I really am saddened by the state of politics here in MO. Our Republican “boy wonder” governor will not be running for re-election – I have mixed feelings about that. He made some extremely tough financial decisions – ones that were not popular politically, and then he compounded that by basically being politically inept. We’re faced with late entrants on the Republican side running against a Democrat who has been Attorney General for about 50 years (at least it seems that way). On the bright side, the Republican candidates are an outstanding (in my opinion) U.S. Representative by the name of Kenny Hulsoff and the current State Treasurer, Sarah Steelman. They are both good candidates and would be much better choices than the Dem, Jay Nixon. Unfortunately, Nixon has been running for this job – actively – for at least the last 3 years, and Missouri still has it’s fair share of “yellow dog Democrats”.
It will be an interesting election.
I want to second 30’s comment to UberInfidel’s post: good on ya, Aussies. While I have admiration for this Australian’s gratitude, it makes me heartsick. Why can’t Americans stop nitpicking about the war and what they do and don’t accept and just be proud of our military? Why can’t they do that?
This just makes me wonder what we’re headed for as a country when Australians pick up on something so obvious that Americans here at home simply have no interest or pride in.
Too bad, “Peter Turner” isn’t running on the Democrat ticket.
oh wait…He wasn’t born in Hawaii.
You may draw your own conclusions
Finally able to catch up and UberInfidel67 thanks for post #162. I am currently surrounded by young men and women in uniform every workday and can only concur with the comments of Peter Turner when it comes to how I feel about these young heroes. Being retired military I tend to be a little prejudice. Thanks terrig , 30 pcs of Silver, and all the rest for taking the good fight to the trolls. I better get back to work and will check in again when I get home tonight.
The young people who are willing to fight are our best!
http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=143757
Biden is such a moron.
Let’s give the bad guys a roadmap as to how to defeat us.
Man! Lugar is even dumber than Biden.
Thank you for this post. Absolutely one of the most heartening, beautiful pieces of text I have read in quite some time.
Thanx again!
Clinton, Levin, Leahy and Kennedy secretly meet each night to cheer for more American casualties. Secretly they devise new and ever more treacherous methods of undermining the troops. Yep.
Hello, all
Just finished my 15 months in the surge: 457 days in Iraq. From where I sat, it was clearly a success as the violence was down by an incredible amount from when I first arrived in the AO last January.
Nice to be back in the US. I’m looking forward to actually watching this testimony on my DVR tonight and then coming back to read the comments.
A-Cav:
Thank you – God Bless.
Plain & Simple. – MY Straight-talk express.
I feel so sorry for Senator Levin and his fellow Democrats on that
committeeinquisition; to have so little pride and foresight in and for their country and the battles it must fight to remain strong and secure is incomprehensible.As for General Patraeus, he must be made of heart and wisdom over-lapped by steel; for to be able to sit there, calmly collectedly, and subject himself to the taunts and aspersions of Democrats, who seek not to learn but only to score political points, takes a real man!
He is a true American soldier and a true American male.
Thanks, JRL;
Though I can’t forgive the Seahawk/Packers game last year…
Regards,
Carl von Clausewitz once opined that the plan of battle is almost always in error. It is the combat , in itself, that defines the plan of now and the future of the engagement. The war evolves in hours, days and months, it is never static. I am amazed at armchair generals trying to convince ME of what war is or should be. Ihave oft refrained from using my personal experience to strongly taint my opinions, but I am fast losing my patience. Vietnam was long ago but the lessons learned about the American left isn’t lost on me today. You either stood beside me or you needed to get out of my way. Our brave troops need to tell that to the cowards of today.
I am tired of the pontification of those who claim to support the troops but not the war. You are disingenuous at best and deceitful at worst.
Cav – I bleed Green & Gold, but only after the red/white/blue is gone –
If I had the power – I’d have gladly been on the losing end of that contest if I knew it had made the day of a warrior like yourself.
( But there are Packer Fans over there too – so what’s a guy to do? )
Glad you got back safe and sound, A-Cav, and thank you. Like being surrounded by green vegetation again?
Alas, I believe that deceitful does not begin to accurately describe the motives of many of these people.
Green vegetation is awesome!!! After 15 months, even scrub Georgia pines and red clay look good!