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Petraeus/Crocker testimony Part II

Same as the last time…Everything is better, but very fragile...Sure sounds like they want the 1oo year—McCain Plan to me.

Crocker: …almost everything in Iraq is hard, but hard does not mean hopeless

He sounds like a basketball coach telling his team during a time out—-that even though they are losing by thirty five points with 6 minutes left to go, they still have a chance to win,…Win, exactly?

NY Times: The general told senators that he was recommending a 45-day pause — which he defined as a period of “consolidation and evaluation” — before reviewing once again whether there should be further troop reductions. 

Duncan notes:

A few minutes ago Candy Crowley told me that the presidential candidates need to appear “above the partisanship,” or something like that, at the Senate hearings with Petraeus. I don’t even know what that means, but to the extent that I do… uh, why?

I heard the same thing on NBC. How fast will McCain’s camp product an ad with footage from the hearings? Will Crowley complain about it?

A man yelled : Bring them HOME!

General P. wouldn’t give an estimate about troop levels at the end of the year. He admits the Basra assault. “It was not adequately planned.”




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76 Responses for “Petraeus/Crocker testimony Part II”
1
Bob Says:

She meant the Democratic presidential candidates.

2
oldtree Says:

Imagine listening to Candy Crowley with anything but revulsion? She sued to get her job back after being fired. She is a news correspondent because she has a lawsuit pending that keeps her employed. Hardly what one would call a journalist any longer. More a contract player at a 3rd rate production company that knows her uncle can’t fire her because the aunt owns the business.
what tools.

3
John Says:

And they need to stop talking about the war, because it’s their purported stance is a good vote-winner.

Of course, what they’d actually DO once elected, is entirely different.

Obama-maniacs should look to France, where Sarkozy had a similar charismatic effect on the electorate, and turned out to be just one giant flip-flop (ie lying s.o.b.) once elected.

4
No. 44 Says:

Shorter Sessions:

The military give me a hard-on. General, ambassador, make me hard!

5
chuck Says:

“above partisanship” = do not show disagreement with Republicans no matter how bad they fuck up.

6
Brealistic Says:

about these latest hearings..”second verse same as the first….” We won’t be fooled again..

7
moniker Says:

Above war vs. peace? Above truth vs. lies?

8
AngryOne Says:

For a five-year catalog of McCain’s erroneous statements on Iraq, see:
“Forever Wrong: Five Years of John McCain on Iraq.”

For the details on John McCain confusing friend and foe in Iraq, see:
“Four Strikes and You’re Out: McCain on Al Qaeda and Iran.”

9
John Says:

“Stop playing the Blame game” = “Stop blaming our guilty guys.”

“Please be bipartisan” = “Please vote with the Republicans”

“We must compromise” = “YOU must change to accomodate me”

Any questions?

10
r Says:

Since we have a Jeffersonian Iraq now, why not let the IRAQIS decide if we should leave?

11
wild_idea Says:

In the real world, you cannot achieve success by perpetuating a mistake.

In Bush’s world, success can only be achieved by sticking to your guns. Martyrdom is Success, in Evangelical Bush’s world.

12
Brealistic Says:

I ask you can anyone with an ounce of brains watch this complete spin and nonsense once again?

13
Ron Says:

r @ 10:

Since we have a Jeffersonian Iraq now, why not let the IRAQIS decide if we should leave?

Over 60% have already decided so.

14
Liam Says:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called off a mass demonstration for Wednesday in Baghdad and threatened to formally end the seven-month cease-fire of his Mehdi Army militia.
art.sadr.city.ap.jpg

Fighting in al-Sadr’s Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City stretched into its third consecutive day Tuesday. At least 36 people have been killed and 139 wounded, an Interior Ministry official said.

Eight of the 11 U.S. troops killed in Iraq on Sunday and Monday died in fighting in Baghdad.

Four U.S. soldiers were killed Monday in the capital, the U.S. military said.

One soldier was killed by a roadside bomb, two by a rocket-propelled grenade and one by small-arms fire after a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle during a patrol in eastern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

The deaths bring the U.S. death toll in the Iraq war to 4,024, including eight civilian Defense Department contractors.

Fighting in eastern Baghdad between U.S. troops and Shiite militiamen — particularly those from al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army — has intensified in recent days.

Militants have been firing rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars at patrols in Sadr City and other neighborhoods and into the bastion of U.S. power in Iraq known as the Green Zone, the U.S. military said.

15
Bonkers Hussein Says:

Brealistic @ 12:

I ask you can anyone with an ounce of brains watch this complete spin and nonsense once again?

An ounce, yes. Any more than that rattling around in ones’ noggin and it’s time to reach for the air sickness bag.

16
ysbaddaden Says:

A blast from the past

Like my buritto surprise

SURPRISE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCR2huE2m8

17
Bob Says:

John @ 3:

And they need to stop talking about the war, because it’s their purported stance is a good vote-winner.

Of course, what they’d actually DO once elected, is entirely different.

Obama-maniacs should look to France, where Sarkozy had a similar charismatic effect on the electorate, and turned out to be just one giant flip-flop (ie lying s.o.b.) once elected.

Yes. Exactly. Obama is just like Sarkozy. They both have curly black hair so clearly they are the same.

18
DHavok Says:

I’m getting tired of the General and Congress talking as if the Iraqis are together fighting the same threat. We all know that this is mostly tribal warfare, and yet they act like we’re going to get to a point where these people can all live together (like Sunnis living next door to Shii’a living next door to Kurds) and sing kumbyah. What the hell is wrong with these people?

Also, why can’t someone call out this nonsense that our goals are within reach? With the fighting getting worse in recent weeks, how can anyone honestly say that?

19
andy Says:

“iran iran iran iran it’s all Irans fault”

I know I am biased but it appears to me these hearings are a cheering squad of Republicans and serious questions from the Democrats.

If the Republicans aren’t political with their questions, as they support the war, I don’t know what is.

From what I heard this morning Obama’s committee questions will be late this afternoon or later.

21
Mike Says:

Brealistic @ 12:

I ask you can anyone with an ounce of brains watch this complete spin and nonsense once again?

SSDD = Same shit, different day.

Pardon me, but it’s time for a little Saigon deja vu - General, you better start picking out a spot on the Baghdad US embassy helipad so you can bug out with honor because as we all know, “The surge is working”.

In my day, it was “the light at the end of the tunnel” - horseshit then, horseshit now….

22
DHavok Says:

Oh, 1 more thing I forgot to mention that the General did say. At one point he actually tried to compare his deployment for 4 years in combat theaters to those of regular soldiers. Do we know whether or not any of his recent stations were actually him in combat scenarios? That type of comparison is absurd anyway as the soldier on the ground that’s on his 3rd deployment has been sitting there in the middle of the fighting, but I want to give the General some benefit of the doubt.

23
tyree Says:

my brain has been overloaded with bullshit, its a brown haze that grows faster then a cancer, it makes me want to start tying ropes with thirteen loops in them and decorate the whitehouse lawn with both dumbocrats and repigs , the world will thank us for the effort!

24
John Says:

“Yes. Exactly. Obama is just like Sarkozy. They both have curly black hair so clearly they are the same.”

Hardly. But if you think Obama being elected will somehow suddenly fix all the country’s ills, you will be seriously disappointed. Just sayin’.

Just because a politician says they will do something (like get the troops out of Iraq) doesn’t mean they will.

Some of the almost religious-fervour I’ve seen in Obamaniacs, looks like incredible naiivety.

So when will they rerun this show again? We’ve seen it twice now and the ending is always the same. Same actors! Same script!

26
r Says:

My hope that ‘6 more months’ would get the job done was four ‘6 more months’ ago.

27
Ron Says:

pissed off patricia @ 20:

I know I am biased but it appears to me these hearings are a cheering squad of Republicans and serious questions from the Democrats.

If the Republicans aren’t political with their questions, as they support the war, I don’t know what is.

From what I heard this morning Obama’s committee questions will be late this afternoon or later.

The repugnacants cheer them on while the Democrats ask serious questions. It’s Dejavue all over again.

28
bill w Says:

wild_idea @ 11:

In the real world, you cannot achieve success by perpetuating a mistake.

In Bush’s world, success can only be achieved by sticking to your guns. Martyrdom is Success, in Evangelical Bush’s world.

Did you mean the Evilgelical bush’s world?

29
legion Says:

Shorter Petreus:
We’ve done the only thing we can think of to do, so let’s not waste time thinking of something that might actually work; let’s just take a deep breath and do the exact same thing next year and see if it works _then_.

30
ronhohn Says:

This ehh, ehh Crocker ehh ehh dude ehh ehh sure is ehh ehh ehh difficult ehh ehh to ehh ehh listen ehh ehh to.

No one has a magic wand but at least both of the democratic candidates talk about getting us out of Iraq. Meanwhile McCain promises we’ll be there for a long time, in some fashion or the other.

ronhohn @ 30:

This ehh, ehh Crocker ehh ehh dude ehh ehh sure is ehh ehh ehh difficult ehh ehh to ehh ehh listen ehh ehh to.

Good! It’s not just me. He is driving absolutely fu*king bananas with his ehs. A teacher told me once in grade school that you do not have to fill every gap when you are talking. There may be silent gaps. From that day to this, it makes me crazy when anyone is speaking and filling what should be silent gaps with uh or eh.

33
Slaw Says:

Shorter Crocker: “Sure, things look grim in Iraq, but you saw what Kansas did last night! If we can just get the insurgents to the free throw line, I think we can still pull this victory out! Give us one or two more Friedman Units.”

34
Ron Says:

John @ 24:

“Yes. Exactly. Obama is just like Sarkozy. They both have curly black hair so clearly they are the same.”

Hardly. But if you think Obama being elected will somehow suddenly fix all the country’s ills, you will be seriously disappointed. Just sayin’.

Just because a politician says they will do something (like get the troops out of Iraq) doesn’t mean they will.

Some of the almost religious-fervour I’ve seen in Obamaniacs, looks like incredible naiivety.

So, we shouldn’t vote for Obama because he may not be able to get it done right away? John, you can’t get anything done if you make no attempt to try. Why don’t you try to come up with some facts to back up your case.

35
Shadowgm Says:

Lindsay Graham is on now. He’d promote Petraeus to five stars if he had his way.

But the winner is ‘let’s just look at things from January of 2007 through January 2008′ to give a fair assessment of what we’re doing in Iraq.

36
John Says:

The definition of insanity… Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome.

Surely we can get this a$$wipe committed?

37
Peter G Says:

Don’t you hate reruns. Couldn’t we temporarily “retire” Petraeus and hear what he really thinks.

38
Democratsrule Says:

Lets just give up any hope that Senators like gayboy Grahm from S.Carolina will ever ask tough questions. These traitors to the Constitution are scum and only care about the kickbacks they get and the Neo-con agenda. Any American that votes Republicon this fall should take that little flag lapel pin and stick it up their collective asses!

39
John Says:

“So, we shouldn’t vote for Obama because he may not be able to get it done right away? John, you can’t get anything done if you make no attempt to try. Why don’t you try to come up with some facts to back up your case.”

Wow you’re really good at putting words in my mouth… I didn’t feel a thing.

I never said don’t vote for Obama. Of the 3 candidates still left, he’d get my vote. I’m saying that I see many of his supporters treating his candidacy as if it were the second coming.

And the simple fact is, for a variety of economic and political reasons, it is likely that if Obama is elected, he will not pull troops from Iraq.

http://www.economist.com/opini.....d=10924123

40
Dr. Acula Says:

I thought the writers’ strike was settled. Why is Congress showing this rerun???

41
ysbaddaden Says:

Here’s my question for Petraus and Crocker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzcLQRXW6B0

42
tyree Says:

obama clinton and mccslut all have a secrete plan to end the war its waiting untill we go broke fighting it!!!!!!wtf didnt we think of that solution?

Lindsey Graham was a total ass. He basically took what Obama has been saying about how he would get the troops out and played it out to Petraeus. He said could we pull a brigade out a month? Maybe to his surprise Petraeus said it would depend on conditions on the ground. Petraeus didn’t say no or oh god that would be a disaster, the way I imagine Graham had hoped he would.

Graham’s questions were political to the max and he was being a mouthpiece for McCain.

44
ysbaddaden Says:

Mike @ 21:

Brealistic @ 12:

I ask you can anyone with an ounce of brains watch this complete spin and nonsense once again?

SSDD = Same shit, different day.

Pardon me, but it’s time for a little Saigon deja vu - General, you better start picking out a spot on the Baghdad US embassy helipad so you can bug out with honor because as we all know, “The surge is working”.

In my day, it was “the light at the end of the tunnel” - horseshit then, horseshit now….

Or an out-of-body-experience.

45
Dr. Acula Says:

pissed off patricia @ 43:

Lindsey Graham was a total ass. He basically took what Obama has been saying about how he would get the troops out and played it out to Petraeus. He said could we pull a brigade out a month? Maybe to his surprise Petraeus said it would depend on conditions on the ground. Petraeus didn’t say no or oh god that would be a disaster, the way I imagine Graham had hoped he would.

Graham’s questions were political to the max and he was being a mouthpiece for McCain.

Gayham is a total hack.

46
galmud Says:

Lets talk about Iran again.. Isnt it true Iran is really behind all of this?

47
ysbaddaden Says:

galmud @ 46:

Lets talk about Iran again.. Isnt it true Iran is really behind all of this?

No, it’s these guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds07XDaKhC4

48
Ron Says:

John @ 39:

“So, we shouldn’t vote for Obama because he may not be able to get it done right away? John, you can’t get anything done if you make no attempt to try. Why don’t you try to come up with some facts to back up your case.”

Wow you’re really good at putting words in my mouth… I didn’t feel a thing.

I never said don’t vote for Obama. Of the 3 candidates still left, he’d get my vote. I’m saying that I see many of his supporters treating his candidacy as if it were the second coming.

And the simple fact is, for a variety of economic and political reasons, it is likely that if Obama is elected, he will not pull troops from Iraq.

http://www.economist.com/opini.....d=10924123

The article is not established fact.

49
galmud Says:

Al Maliki is probably manipulating the US to think Iranians are supporting al Sadr while shifting focus from their own real close connections with Iran. And these guys seems to be falling for it

50
Frybread Says:

r @ 10:

Since we have a Jeffersonian Iraq now, why not let the IRAQIS decide if we should leave?

They can’t because a vote of the Iraqi people about whether they want the U.S. to leave would be a public opinion poll, and Chimpy and Dick(head) Cheney do not listen to polls.

51
Frybread Says:

One of the first things the next president should do is recall Crocker and replace him with someone who actually cares about the situation in Iraq.

52
Frybread Says:

John @ 39:

“So, we shouldn’t vote for Obama because he may not be able to get it done right away? John, you can’t get anything done if you make no attempt to try. Why don’t you try to come up with some facts to back up your case.”

Wow you’re really good at putting words in my mouth… I didn’t feel a thing.

I never said don’t vote for Obama. Of the 3 candidates still left, he’d get my vote. I’m saying that I see many of his supporters treating his candidacy as if it were the second coming.