The debate over the U.S. policy towards Iraq (and the debate over the debate) has taken several twists and turns over the course of five long and painful years, but if there’s one thing I thought the entire Republican establishment agreed on, it’s this: don’t disagree with Gen. David Petraeus. His judgment is sacrosanct, his word is gold, and his assessments of conditions in Iraq are unimpeachable.
Why, then, are John McCain and Dick Cheney contradicting Petraeus publicly?
Just four days ago, Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said that “no one” in the U.S. and Iraqi governments “feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation,” or in the provision of basic public services.
As it turns out, “no one” doesn’t include John McCain, who feels there’s been plenty of progress…
“Anybody who believes the surge has not succeeded, militarily, politically and in most other ways, frankly, does not know the facts on the ground.”
… nor does it include Dick Cheney, who apparently sees political progress Petraeus doesn’t.
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday declared the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq a “successful endeavor,” pointing to security and political progress on a visit ahead of the fifth anniversary of the war.
A new schism between Petraeus and Republican leaders? Well, probably not. It’s far more likely that McCain and Cheney have their political talking points to read, and don’t much care whether they contradict Petraeus’ comments or not.
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Why are they campaigning in Iraq? Were Iraqis granted the right to vote in American elections? Seems only fair.
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IMPEACH
McCHENEY
FIRST!!
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WTF?
If Petraeus “retires” I shutter to think what might happen.
Christ! Now we are going to hear we have to stay another six months! If McCain wins I’m seriously thinking of moving to Canada. We can’t afford another REpub in office for another four years, Our beloved country is going down the tubes before our very eyes.
Ian McGarrett @ 1:
Well, the Iraqi’s are spending most of our tax dollars so it’s only fair they get schmoozed over by the MIC goons like Mccain and Cheney.
What happened to “I listen to the leaders on the ground”? I guess they listen until they don’t like what they are hearing, then get a new one. He will go the way of Fallon soon, and “spend more time with his family”
Nice!
Well, then, the Pencil-Necks are saying that they know more than the guy who is there day-in day-out, They are calling him a liar and tha his being “on-the-ground” as they say means nothing.
These two imbeciles want to govern this country.
Facts are never an obstacle whenever Republicans make any statements, particularly about Iraq. They do what the MSM does, they ignore them.
CD @ 3:
What’s George Bush’s first words after he meets with the latest Iraqi theatre commander?
NEXXXXXT!!!
it’s time to start a media blitz on how lame mccain is and what a water boy he is and has been for the republican party. he wants to keep this war going for political reasons and american lives as well as iraqui lives are sacrificed for his end.
P.D. @ 4:
You wont be able to, our dollar wont buy enough there anymore for you to live on.
I wonder if they feel he is working to ‘betray us’?
some beautiful pix from san diego:
http://freewayblogger.blogspot.....diego.html
I love it when people get it.
Bob, you got that one right! What’s going to happen to us? Are we going to become a third world country? We have massive debt, lost credibilty. God, I need a drink!
It’s Mid-Night, what the hell am I doing here. I should be out partying with the rest of the Ex-Pat (that term is getting more and more meaning) community .
Of course they disagree with , Petraeus!!!!! He’s telling the truth!!!!! Have the other two idiots ever told the truth?
Gee, I honestly hope that Saint Petraeus enjoys those tire tracks across his awesomely manly heterosexual Republican chest after McCain, Bush and Darth Cheney throw him under the proverbial bus. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. Of course, the MSM will, once again, conveniently forget to point out the irony of the entire situation. I mean, it’s just TOO complicated a matter to be trusted to the judgemnet of us, you know, THE FUCKING AMERICAN ELECTORATE!
P.D. @ 14:
My sentiments exactly ….. good night all, unless i come back hammered and make an ass of myself ………Again.
I expect it will be like last time. Petraeus says something to the press, comes to Washington to testify, talks to the White House, and then tells Congress pretty much the exact opposite of what he told the press.
Dance. little puppet, dance!
I get the sense Gen. Petraeus is about to “want to spend more time with his family.” There’s a seat in Fallon’s golf cart with his name on it.
thanks McCheney!
now I’m clear on the real truth
And McCain is more knowledgeable about the facts on the gorund in Iraq than Petraeus because . . .
I am surprised that they haven’t crucified him like they did Sanchez, Abazaid, and Pace in the past. Give them time, they will. But of course, the Freepers use the O’ Reilly defense and say he was misquoted.
http://www.freerepublic.com/fo.....5923/posts
Of course Cheney and McCain are rejecting Petraeus’s assessment. McCain is little more than an acolyte at the Altar Of Bush right now…and if there’s one thing which the Bush administration has made apparent over the last six-odd years, it’s that you don’t dare dispute or disagree with Our Beloved Leader if you want to keep your job.
Wonder if Petraeus will eventually find himself in the same position as the other military leaders before him who have fallen out of favor with Bush because they didn’t agree with him…
Betrayus has betrayed Cheney too?
hahaha!
tooooooooooooooo funny!
So they hired Petraeus to push the surge, and now that he’s said that our Iraq policy is a dismal failure, they kick him to the curb. I’m shocked I tells ya… shocked!
When the left started bashing Petraeus over him pimping the surge, the 101st Kooky Keyboard Kommandos were eager to rush to his defense. So I wonder if they’re still behind him now that he changed his tune.
$20 says they’re about to shove him under the bus too.
How dare they question the wisdom of Petreaus? I guess Petreaus isn’t the authority unless he’s saying what they want him to say.
It is successful, in the sense that it has bring this country from a can-do nation effervescent of hope into a jittery, fearful, leery of thy neighbor nation, where reality is a dream, and public relations talking points is a fact.
Soon a Corporal will be a General to replace all those retiring early. That is if he goes along with Bush and Company.
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FOUR MORE SURGES!
FOUR MORE SURGES!
[/snark].
When the Soviet army started pushing hard against the Nazi forces, Hitler ignored all his generals’ advice and even fired some of them. Look how well it turned out for him.
They bring Petraeus out and parade him in front of the cameras when what he has to say supports the Bush regime’s goals, but throw him under the bus when what he says does not support their plans. I thought Chimpy and Dickhead Cheney listened to the commanders on the ground.
George Bush as Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours!!
“General…General…how you doin’…it’s me…it’s me Georgie maaaan…wha…wha…es meee…why you all hostile and stuff with gunnns…you changed maaan…”
Wow! Remember the caterwauling from the right about “General Betrayus”? Shame on Moveon for being absolutely right. No matter what any general will say Darth Chaney and his minions will make sure we will be in Iraq for a gazzillion years. We could lose everything, Our creditibility, treasury, military, brave young men and women. Nothing will stop the war machine. What a legacy!
I was just watching MSNBC and Al Jazeera is playing on a monitor behind the prompter reader. Does this prove that there’s a conspiracy in US media?
(for the humor impaired, yes I’m kidding)
Liberal AND Proud @ 33:
Wasn’t that Beverly Hills Cop? :-)
Ian McGarrett @ 1:
Yes they should. But of course McCain dont give a shit about the Iraqi people. Violence is on the rise, hundreds of innocent Iraqis die every week and McCain and Cheney thinks the surge has succeeded that Iraq is making progress.
As if violence between Iraqis wasnt bad enough. Who knows how many innocents US troops kills every day claiming they’re insurgents? Judging by the Winter Soldier testimonies, the “rules of engagement” is regarded as a joke by the marines. A technicality not to worry about.
Civilans killed (”hadjis” as the military of all ranks apparently call all arabs or brown foreigners) accidentaly or intentionally are just covered up by senior officers, probably labeled insurgents or terrorists in the official reports. Or just throw a shovel on a killed unarmed Iraqi and a murdered innocent father and husband becomes a terrorist postmortem
Ricky Bones @ 36:
Correct. I get my drunks confused when I think about the Chimperor.
Ricky Bones @ 36:
Yeah. Beverly Hills Cop.
McCheney Language Filter…
Success=Oil Deals
there, understand…
P.D. @ 34:
Cheney relies on Murkins with short memories who are more focused on “Dancing with the Stars”.
All Dumbya Reslugs are deaf to the truth in Iraq.
P.D. @ 4:
Me too. I can’t picture life in the USA post-Bush with McCain the Crazy at the helm. What would be the point?
galmud @ 37:
Oh, not true, not true! Cheney is very concerned with the Iraqi people.
After all, it’s not until all the Iraqis have been
murderedslaughteredcleansedreformed that Halliburton can move its people in to take the sweet, sweet oil for the Glorious Republik of Amerika and not have to pay those annoying “prices.”The welfare of the Iraqi people is foremost in the mind of Cheney: the worse it gets, the happier he is.
These two idiots along with the entire Bush crime family have never let Facts get in the way of their version of the truth!
anncoulterisevil.com @ 39:
I think a better analogy is any of the many 3 stooges shorts.
If betrayus steps down the next Generals name will probably, Gen Screwuptheass.
Knock knock
Who’s there?
T’was
T’was who?
T’was nice knowing ya Dave, you’re fired!
I am very familiar with the use and abuse of the military when they are needed by our government to prop up another failing puppet government somewhere in the world that has something that we want.
I am also familiar, along with a growing number of generals, admirals and ex-soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women, how soon these very faithful military men and women and their families are kicked to the curb or thrown under the bus by the government users and abusers in the legislative and executive branches of our government when they are either wounded, killed, or retire from the services and are no longer useful to the politicians.
Wasn’t this the same general that Chimpy McFlightsuit kept saying over and over again “Let’s wait to hear what Gen. Patreaus says”. “Let’s wait to hear what Gen. Patreaus says”….
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick I am thankful for every second that passes that these fucktards don’t blow up the world.
IH @ 48:
Ayupper…he’s a goner…how DARE he contradict McBain and Cheney’s reality…with FACTS no less…the NERVE!
Buh bye Patreaus! Next!
There will be quite a bit of time to dicuss the atrocities of this administration while we’re in line at the soup kitchen. Do you think Cheney has his billions in dollars or euros?