Everything In Moderation, And More’s The Pity

We agree, Andrea…If Petraeus is going to insert himself into the political process of selling this war with a one hour exclusive power point presentation for FOX viewers…well, then he is fair game for criticism. I’m sure he was just shoring up the base for his presidential run.

Besides, Petraeus is no John Kerry. If you want to see how a soldier testifies to the Senate when he cares more about his fellow soldiers than he does his career…don’t watch Petraeus’ testimony. Rather, go here:

http://verbal.democracynow.org/2004/2/20/john_kerry_then_hear_kerrys_historic

Kerry’s testimony resonates just as much today as it did in 1971 when he asked “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?”

Never forget that the people whining about the Petraeus ad are the same ones who cheered when Kerry was Swift-Boated.

Does anyone seriously think this was anything but theatre? The “Petraeus report” was written, rewritten and rewritten again by the White House so Bush could have the bizarre experience of somberly accepting his own recommendations!

Most generals with integrity have long since left the employ of the Decider.

As great a debacle as you people seem to believe that Iraq has been for us, you would have to admit that if General Petraeus manages to fix it he would probably deserve the job.

Jim, am I to understand that you support running the meter to the tune of $10 billion a month for, say, the next ten years, with actions that by any objective measure are worsening the situation on every front?

Petraeus is nothing not a sold-out whore. The idea that he could manage to fix anything is ludicrous. Neither he, you, nor I will live long enough to see Iraq “fixed.”

James: What amazing insight you seem to have into the inner workings of the Bush administration. How could someone with such solid leftist credentials as yourself have infiltrated the White House to such a depth that he would feel confident in stating categorically exactly how the report in question was prepared? I’m sure it’s an amazing story, and as soon as you tell us all how you did it I’ll take what you have to say about the report seriously. Until then I must dismiss you as the partisan fruit cake the above post makes you out to be.

One of the many sources on the background of the so-called “report” is indeed the LA Times.

Despite Bush’s repeated statements that the report will reflect evaluations by Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, administration officials said it would actually be written by the White House, with inputs from officials throughout the government.

Of course, that’s the liberal media for you.

Jim, do you really think that Petraeus and Crocker came before Congress and said anything not thoroughly vetted and approved by the White House?

Please reply with either “yes” or “no.” Because if the answer is “yes,” you will save me the time and trouble of any future engagement.

PS Petraeus did say one thing that wasn’t scripted, that he most certainly regrets having done.

Thanks.

I thought it was implicit in my previous answer that I don’t think that Iraq is a debacle in regards to blood, treasure, moral authority, national security, etc. Sorry if that wasn’t clear to you. I don’t think the statement needs defending, as events on the ground far outweigh anything you or I can say about it. I see on television and read about in the paper the same violence and bloodshed that you do, and it doesn’t look like a debacle to me–it looks like an ancient society stuggling painfully (but with American support) to turn itself into something better. Of course, all wars look like debacles to those who don’t understand what they are about or don’t believe the ends are worth the struggles, but I know you are un-persuadable on that, as am I.

In the long run it doesn’t matter what you call it; if we can leave behind a reasonably stable, reasonably democratic government that acts more like an ally than an adversary vis-a-vis our interests in the region, no one will admit that they ever thought it was a debacle.