The Political Chase

Petraeus Backpedals on Victory Remark

Gen. David Petraeus backpedaled on his previous statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he did not know if victory in Iraq would make America safer. Questioned about his earlier remark, Petraeus told Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN):

Candidly, I have been so focused on Iraq, uh, that, uh, drawing all the way out, uh, was something that for a moment there, uh was a bit of a surprise…Having focused down and down and down, uh, that was something that, uh, that really, uh, at first glance that was something I’d let others above me answer.

Notice how Gen. Petraeus holds his head down most of the time he answers. Very uncharacteristic.

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A four-star general and Commander of the Coalition Forces in Iraq, and he gets confused over whether the war will make America safer, or would pass that to his chain of command to answer?

Petraeus: ‘I don’t know’ if victory in Iraq will make America safer

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, General David Petraeus made what is surely one of the most profound and telling statements of his two-day testimony before Congress.

In stark contrast to President Bush’s countless claims that victory in Iraq will make America and the world safer, General Petraeus said “I don’t know” if victory in Iraq will make America safer. Check it out…

Petraeus’s declaration to Congress is surely precedent setting for any U.S. military commander, particularly when the commander bears the ultimate responsibility for planning and prosecuting a major war that more than two-thirds of Americans want to end immediately.I

t is not necessary to anticipate President Bush’s next move, but this indeed greatly raises the stakes for his Republican supporters. How can the Republicans in Congress continue to give Bush the unyielding support he demands when the general prosecuting the war cannot say it has a direct connection to ensuring the safety of the country?

Update

My posting is limited today due to the the Senate Hearings on the Petraeus Report. I will have more updates after I have finished reviewing the hearings.

Petraeus, Crocker Block DeMint’s Iran Agenda

Many neoconservatives, especially Dick Cheney and George Bush, are beating the drums for war against Iran. Included in that group is Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) — a rising leader in neoconservative circles. DeMint failed to further the neoconservative Iran agenda in today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Petraeus Report on Iraq. DeMint posed questions to Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker about Iran, obviously seeking answers to heighten concerns about Iran’s involvement in Iraq. Instead, Crocker and Petraeus deflated DeMint by making it clear that Iran posed a limited threat.

Check out the video.

Text of Petraeus, Crocker Testimony

Download the full text (.pdf) of Gen. David Petraeus opening statement before the House Armed Service Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday.

Download the full text (,pdf) of Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker’s opening statement before the House Armed Service Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday.