McCain, Cheney reject Petraeus analysis of Iraq
By Steve Benen Monday Mar 17, 2008 11:50am
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.com/2008/03/free-speech-in-san-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/focus/f-news/1985923/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?
I can't wait until Hannity or Limbaugh says..."He betrayed us!!"
I thought they listened to this general.
Funny, after all the failures, nobody has the guts to demand their resignations.
They get a free pass for destroying out country.
Is general howdy doody trying to shake off the strings?
I'm waiting to hear the Senate democrats who attacked MoveOn rush to the General's defense.
Baucus (D-MT), Bayh (D-IN), Cardin (D-MD), Carper (D-DE), Casey (D-PA), Conrad (D-ND), Dorgan (D-ND), Feinstein (D-CA), Johnson (D-SD), Klobuchar (D-MN), Kohl (D-WI), Landrieu (D-LA), Leahy (D-VT), Lincoln (D-AR), McCaskill (D-MO), Mikulski (D-MD), Nelson (D-FL), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Salazar (D-CO), Tester (D-MT), Webb (D-VA)
david @ 40:
ding, ding, ding, ding....we have a winner!!! Tell him what he's won, bob.
Its becoming more and more clear that oil was the sole purpose for this war. The bullshit legislation they are trying to shove down the iraqi's throats is all the evidence you need as proof. "we want you to be free, but we think its just as important that we give our texas brothers complete access and control of your oil resources". If it weren't so strikingly obvious and true, I would say it was Un-fucking-believable.
Is this a surprise?
chenny and bush have bben wrong about everything since they stole the 2000 election. Think about it. We know they have weapons. They will welcome us with flowers and chocolates. Saddam was in league with the terrorists. The war will pay for itself.
How could anyone believe anything these stupid lyings sons of bitches have to say about anything?
Are you people that stupid?
5 Vietnam deferrments Dick and AWOL Bush know better than the officers and soldiers on the field who have served.
Yea, that's the ticket.
So now they're calling him Gen. Betrayus?
Quick, let's demand a Congressional censure!!!
The good general must not have received his talking points that day. Ooops.
Side note...McCain is vamping up the Iran threat today in Jordan. The march continues, the drums beat louder, and secrecy continues to shroud the administration.
And to think we are paying these idiots to represent us! It is no wonder the world is amazed at the decline of the U.S. government, world standing and dollar during the GWB regime.
The heavy handed, autocratic policies and outright disregard for anything that stands in the way of oil profits by the present regime in Washington has and is destroying the U.S. and it's citizens.
Continuing to make the leaders in the military look dumber and dumber each time out. Of course, when they lead you to believe that you're "one of them" if you just play along, one can understand the stunned disbelief when the general gets slapped down in public.
Ya know, one of these times when someone from this administration is visiting the military in the middle of this God-forsaken, waste of human life and treasure - and I am in no way advocating this, so neocons reading this, don't blow this out of proportion - someone in the military on their 5th or 6th return to that part of the world is just going to plain get sick of it, take their weapon off safety and play Rambo.
Of course, those military members in the area have probably already had their weapons emptied, but are then given them back for "show." It's most likely the Blackwater types have the loaded weapons.
So
What
Else
Is
New
A 5 deferment chickenshit chickenhawk douchebag and a below-average pilot are now claiming they know more about what is going on in Iraq than the supposed God-like general that is running the show ; when do they start to tell music directors/teachers that Mozart and Beethoven just penned whimsical ditties ?
James Ratliff @ 60:
But...but...they said the kool-aid was safe!
Having Served........... @ 65:
And they couldn't give 2 shits if we all fuckin died tomorrow.
I predict that by the time Petraeus gives his next report to Congress his story will change to reflect the administrative line.
I predict that by the time Petraeus gives his next report to Congress his line will reflect the administrations point of view.
Why are McCain and Cheney contradicting Patreaus? Why do they hate America?
is there any doubt the gop and the neocons
are the terrorists in America. all their policies
and criminal actions have and are leading to the
complete destruction of the Constitution of the
United States and democracy. they want a fascist-dictatorship
of America.
mcfuckhead and cheney-cheapshit are military-complex whores.
IMPEACH CHENEY NOW----------------DEFEAT MCLAME IN 2008
Vote 'em out.
When Petraeus was suckin'-off Bush,he could do no wrong but now that he's letting out tiny bits of truth he suddenly doesn't know what he's talking about.This would be hilarious if it wasn't for the fact that we have lost almost 4000 souls in that hell hole called Iraq.Not to mention the thousands who are maimed,both physically and mentally.I keep telling myself that karma will indeed remember all the liars and hypocrites that got us into this fucked up mess to begin with!
I'm sure Petraeus will be obsequeously thianking Cheney and Mc Shitstain for so graciously recalibrating him.
Paul @ 77:
Hopefully he thanks them all with a coup.
But. but but....The Prez said it was all up to the General?!?!
This Week's McAKA's, updated and the Big Pile O' McAKA's
Gotta go...will check back...please leave a massage ;-}
“Last word, freak.” - Melvin Udall
out
There is a very simple explanation behind the disagreement of opinion between the General and mr. cheney.
When Gen. Petraeus said, "no one," he was referring to humans. Cloven hooved demons from hell were excluded.
There. We can now put that baby to bed.
First the admin. has a couple of "credible/knowledgable" men go over and do a study on Iran and after it is written, it's totally disregarded by Bush & Cheney as incorrect.
Now, their Savious General P who knows exactly what is going on, if the surge is the answer etc. is disragreed with by these guys clowns who are only warmongers.
America can't see through this?
[Deleted. Don't post in ALL CAPS-Sitemonitor]
Why would the facts matter now, when they haven't mattered all along? I for one am grateful for Gen. Petraeus' honesty, and expect that he'll soon receive the Shinseki treatment, i.e., he'll be consigned to early "retirement."
On October 26, 1966 Lyndon Johnson visited Vietnam and declared that the U.S. was winning the war.
Nine years and 30,000 dead later the U.S. was out of Southeast Asia, Vietnam was united under a totalitarian regime, Cambodia was on fire, Laos a shambles and upwards of 5M died across the region.
So in response to McCain and Cheney's assessment on Iraq let's just say that history surely does have a replay button.
Too bad history doesn't have a pause or better still a reverse function.
So given Cheney's and McCain's opinion that things are going swimmingly in Iraq, we can expect an announcement of the start of significant troop withdrawals, right?
Heard a report on NPR this morning where they interviewed a number of people in the Iraqi parliament and they have not even started reconciliation. After what I heard I don't think the Shiites want reconciliation. Fuck the Iraqis and their thousands of years of bull shit. Pull everyone out now and to hell with the Middle East. We need to start focusing on the home front and the coming depression.
I'm convinced that Cheney, McCain, Lieberman and Graham went to Iraq to correct Petraeus' position before he gets before the Congress.
With Dubya and Deadeye Dick you are either with them or they throw you under the bus. The truth does mean crap to them. Lies are SOP. The war is working, the economy is just fine, global warming is caused by cows. So shut up, bend over and take it.
P.D. @ 4:
Why don't you help take the country back then. We American prided ourselves to be "great" but all talk and no action. I mean countries like Kenya and Mexico whose been considered as inferior to America has guts to protest their election result. Why can't we The only way Mccain or any reppug can win this election is to cheat on it. And if we let them.
KCThinker @ 87:
They already are fucked up thanks to George Fucking Monkey Bush. Americans and destroy their country because of this invasion. As for this recession. In the Hindu religion they have a saying and it says KARMA.
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