ATTACK ON PETREAUS A SURE SIGN OF DESPERATION
Attacking the President over his Iraq policies and for the sunny side up way in which the Administration has been reporting progress on the war over the last 4 years is fair game. This is politics in America today, albeit much of the criticism is vicious and personal, and therefore appropriate in the context of what constitutes a debate over our policies.
But leave it to the left to lower the bar so that even rattlesnakes can’t get under it.
This is an ad that appeared in the New York Times today from that bastion of restraint and decorum, Moveon.Org:
At least give them credit for originality. I can’t remember the last time a general officer in the United States Army was all but called a traitor.
The body of the ad is unimportant if only because it links to reports from the GAO and others that show the surge isn’t “working.” If there is anything about Iraq that we can say with certainty, it is that in the relatively short amount of time (about 3 months since our force buildup was complete) that the surge has been in full motion, good progress has been made in some areas, no progress in others, and some places have gotten worse.
Duh.
The fact that al-Qaeda and the sectarian murderers (many of whom are not free agents but are being paid by outside actors) can read the newspapers and watch al-Jazeera, knowing full well the political situation in this country and are further aware that a supreme effort on their part to kill as many innocents as possible will likely bolster calls for an immediate withdrawal of our troops places people like Moveon.Org and the netroots who have also been sliming General Petreaus over the last few days in a de-facto alliance with the killers. Both want exactly the same thing; America totally out of Iraq. To not acknowledge that using the enemy’s deliberate attempt to escalate casualties in hopes that war opponents will gain the upper hand in this country is self-deluding. It doesn’t mean that the left are traitors or unpatriotic or anything else except pure, unadulterated dupes, easily manipulated and trained like dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell. Only in this case, they are trained to say “I told you so” about the surge after every mass casualty attack.
As long as the situation is even marginally better, we should continue to do all in our power to help the Iraqi government somehow come to grips with its numerous problems. I have little confidence the crew currently in charge - Maliki and his sectarian mob - are anxious to get anything done in this regard. But the “bottom up” reconciliation being effected in Anbar and elsewhere may work to force the national government to deal with the Sunnis sooner rather than later. When 50 Sunni tribes representing the great majority of Sunnis in Anbar form a secular political party to participate in the political life of the country, Maliki and his henchmen will have political difficulty in not working with them and others, although I imagine we will have to exploit the Shia fears of a well armed Sunni population in order to do get them off the mark.
Unfortunately, Baghdad and its environs are a different story. Here, the national polity has been so fractured, the factions so numerous and violent that it would be best if we allowed the Iraqi army alone to handle security there. Given that the army and police are riven with Shia militia sympathizers, this probably means a virtually “Sunni free” Baghdad in the future. This, along with the power of the Shia militias in the south are beyond our military’s capability to deal with. The militias ultimately are a political problem for the government.
Is the situation likely to turn around in 6 months? A year? No one, including Moveon and their smear machine can say. But given the stakes and given what has occurred so far, we should at least give General Petreaus the benefit of the doubt and allow him to continue his work, revisiting the issue again next March and on a regular basis after that.
Sliming General Petreaus, calling him a liar, a stooge, an Administration lackey is a sign that the left can’t win the debate on the merits of their arguments. All they have left is to attempt to kill the messenger by destroying his credibility. General Petreaus has more integrity in his little finger than all those who have sought to damage his well deserved reputation have collectively. And judging by what I’ve been hearing at the Congressional hearing this morning, their tactic has backfired badly.
What if they gave a “tet” and nobody came?
You get the feeling that the left is deeply disappointed to find that we are winning.
Comment by Frank Martin — 9/10/2007 @ 12:58 pm
And in Rep. Santos opening remarks today (before GEN Petreaus even said a word) that “I don’t buy it” shows the shameful way the left regards the military. He all but called the general a liar and willing stooge of the administration! Before the general even had a chance to report!!!
I am thoroughly disgusted by the treasonous posturing of Democrats and their public relations arm, the media. (or is the Democrat Party the political wing of the media? It’s so hard to tell these days.)
I am so glad these traitors were not around in the fall of 1942, when the Japanese were running wild in the Pacific. “Oh no…we only have one carrier left! We need to give up. We can’t beat them. The Zero is too good. They have too many ships, planes, fanatical soldiers. They’re unbeatable. Boo hoo hoo. Thank God those whiners were not in control of Congress then! We’d all be speaking Japanese or German.
Comment by Bruce — 9/10/2007 @ 1:53 pm
Lots more “ signs” the left cannot win a debate on the merits of their arguments.
Comment by Chip — 9/10/2007 @ 2:05 pm
The Democrats skepticism of Petraeus is just a reflection of what people in the country are feeling about him.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/just_39_believe_iraq_report_will_honestly_present_petraeus_views_35_say_it_will_not
No doubt the Administration will point to the blatantly fake Osama video that arrived just in time to justify whatever Petraeus says.
The public has been down this road for a while now, and we can see the BS coming from a mile away.
Comment by Melanie Haddon — 9/10/2007 @ 2:40 pm
This ad brings tears to my eyes. When, in our entire history, have any segment of our nation slimed our military generals? When we were losing in the Pacific front, did we hear outcrys how Eisenhower was just a puppet of the FDR administration?
We are fully aware that the Democrats on Capitol Hill are in constant contact with the scum that represents the MoveOn.org bunch. We understand that a secure and stable Iraq, leading democracy in the Middle East, is a loss for the Democrats. We get it.
But what creates such people that their own personal political agendas are more important to them that a stable Middle East? Please, someone explain that to me.
In the ’50s, J. Edgar Hoover wrote a book about the communist enemies that were among us. Perhaps it is time for a re-read of his book replacing the term “communists” with “progressive” and understanding that it is not only the loss of Iraq they root for, but the entire reconstruction of our social/political structure.
How sad all this is to me.
Comment by retire05 — 9/10/2007 @ 2:52 pm
Rick Moran Said: “Is the situation likely to turn around in 6 months? A year? No one, including Moveon and their smear machine can say.”
Since I have the benefit of being an independent, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say: NO. No, there is no way in hell that the situation is likely to turn around in 6 months, or even a year.
What will happen though, is that the contracting organizations will make mind-boggling amounts of what I’d call FREE MONEY. Good for them, because they figured out the secret. They earned it… well, not literally, but you know what I mean.
It’s all about the flow of massive amounts of zero accountability tax payer cash. I dare you to tell me that it’s something else.
Comment by tHePeOPle — 9/10/2007 @ 3:27 pm
The General won Monday’s round. The General also got a huge windfall from the Moveon.org idiots who can not contain their insanity.
Comment by Silvio Canto, Jr. — 9/10/2007 @ 4:04 pm
#4
Judging from your inane and paranoid ramblings here, you wouldn’t know the first thing about having a healthy skepticism.
However, speaking of “seeing the BS coming,” the vast, vast majority of Americans, being sane, balanced and generally positive people, will have no trouble viewing the antics of these moonbats in their proper perspective.
Comment by Chip — 9/10/2007 @ 4:21 pm
“The public has been down this road for a while now, and we can see the BS coming from a mile away.”
Really? Then why is it that even more folks believe Patreaus will report truthfully (39%) than not (35%) - as seen from your own source. Jeez, people. If your are going to claim something - at least point to a source that supports your frigging claim.
Moron!
Comment by SShiell — 9/10/2007 @ 4:25 pm
Well, Rick, I disagree with what you said about the Left, and your logic. If the Left is saying “I told you so”, the only way to achieve that correct status is to have been correct earlier, in the face of differing opinion. Given that the differing opinion is the administration, the trained generals, the repeating media, I find that the Left’s position has been both early, correct, and brave in the face of society’s might. Let me just say ” I told you so”, loudly, and from the Left. The bush posse and the trained generals, and the neo-cons can only dream of being as correct as the Left. If that’s training, then you guys had best get trained.
Comment by Richard W. Crews — 9/10/2007 @ 5:45 pm
The “I told you so” refers to the idea that the surge wouldn’t work. It is achieving many of the goals that Petreaus set for it. There is progress being made - measurable progress.
In that respect, you and the left are wrong. And playing into the enemy’s hands by pointing to a mass casualty attack - each, single attack - a crowing (actually being glad) that “the surge isn’t working” makes you and the terrorists partners.
If you find this something to be proud of, that’s pretty pathetic.
Comment by Rick Moran — 9/10/2007 @ 5:53 pm
The surge is not working. It’s not even a surge. They admitted today that when it’s “over” the troop level will be higher than when it started. And, it ain’t working, period. The seasonal variations are larger than the cited stats. It’s bush*t that you are buying. Besides, the surge wasn’t rationalized to kill or stop killing, it was to provide an environment for political progress. The Iraqis went on vacation while we “surged”. They missed 15 of 18 benchmarks, and the 3 hits were minor. Our troops are dying for NOTHING. There is nothing that is going to change from an Iran-friendly Shiite pseudo-theocracy. In a year, I’ll tell you ” I told you so” again, but another 1300 American troops will be dead, FOR NO REASON.
Comment by Richard W. Crews — 9/10/2007 @ 8:23 pm
Well framed, Rick. You really nailed him when you said he and the terrorists were partners. It made me hate him even more.
PS. Could you please do a post on the billions of US tax payer dollars that the contracting corporations have used to rebuild Iraq? I scan the news weekly for pictures of these multi-million dollar facilities that are being constructed (schools, hospitals, etc.) but I haven’t seen any yet.
Comment by tHePeOPle — 9/10/2007 @ 10:30 pm
#9…
You left out the part where 26% of respondents “don’t know” if he will be honest.
Comment by Melanie Haddon — 9/11/2007 @ 12:08 am
“It is achieving many of the goals that Petreaus set for it. There is progress being made – measurable progress.”
Really? I can’t see any at all. The major high point seems to be that, in an area not covered by the surge, we are arming militias made up of people who want to fight the central government. This doesn’t seem much of a high point to me.
Still, this is just another Friedman Unit grabbing PR surge. In 4 months we’ll be at doom and gloom again, then at 5 months we’ll see the next PR surge start (probably around the withdrawl of a couple of thousand troops), and buy the last remaining FU until a Democrat can be blamed for losing Iraq.
But I won’t say I told you so, of course.
Comment by Drongo — 9/11/2007 @ 1:46 am
Mr. Moran:
What on Earth makes you think liberals are happy when soldiers get killed?
“And playing into the enemy’s hands by pointing to a mass casualty attack – each, single attack – a crowing (actually being glad) that “the surge isn’t working†makes you and the terrorists partners.”
As an opponent of the war, I’m not glad when our boys get killed. It pisses me off to no end, because they should never have been in harms way in the first place. I’m furious at the Administration stalling for time, when stalling equals dead American soldiers. That’s a peversely sick attitude you have, not the Left.
Comment by busboy33 — 9/11/2007 @ 2:33 am
I respect Gen. Petraeus but let’s face it, his message (”some progress…need more time”) is exactly what we’ve been hearing for four years. I have no doubt that, four years from now we’ll still be on the ‘verge’ of victory. We seem to be trying to make the proverbial silk purse from the sow’s ear.
Comment by gregdn — 9/11/2007 @ 8:14 am
“I am so glad these traitors were not around in the fall of 1942, when the Japanese were running wild in the Pacific.”
I won’t defend MoveOn’s headline language (it’s stupid and counterproductive), but… there is some history with sloppy accusations of treason by the American-right against the American-left-of-the-American-right.
Comment by Bill Arnold — 9/11/2007 @ 12:14 pm
#14
Obviously you “don’t know” how to interpret the results of a poll logically.
Comment by Chip — 9/11/2007 @ 12:22 pm
[...] Your comprehensive coverage of the antics in the house yesterday continues with Ankle Biting Pundits » Blog Archive » Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter – Pro-Genocide? | Ankle Biting Pundits » Blog Archive » General “Rosary Joe†Biden Declares The Surge A Failure | Atlas Shrugs: PETRAEUS! | Atlas Shrugs: “We’re Kicking Ass in Iraq” | Babalu Blog: Democrats | baldilocks: Before I Leave… | baldilocks: Rock Bottom (UPDATED) | Big Dogs Weblog » Blog Archive » Which Government Displays More Failure? | Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “The Surge That Never Was - the Setback That Was Never Set†| BLACKFIVE: Petraeus live | BLACKFIVE: MoveOn flings poo at Petraeus | California Conservative » Tuesday’s Must See TV | Big Dogs Weblog » Blog Archive » General Petraeus Draws Moonbats to DC | FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » Iraq War Watch: General Petraeus Appears Before Congress | FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » Senator John Ensign Calls on All Democrats to Return MoveOn.org Contributions | FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » Iraq War Watch: Dianne Feinstein - Military Expert or Profiteer? | Gateway Pundit: General Petraeus: THE SURGE IS WORKING! | Gateway Pundit: McCain and Lieberman Call Out to Defeatocrats in Congress | Gateway Pundit: Leading Democratic Group Calls Top General a Traitor | Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Code Pink removed from Petraeus hearing; Update: Video — Skelton calls protesters a**holes | Hot Air » Blog Archive » Open thread: Petraeus mania; Update: Petraeus expects drawdown to pre-surge troop levels by next summer; Update: Iran building an Iraqi Hezbollah, says Petraeus, as moonbats screech; Update: Transcripts and slides added | Hot Air » Blog Archive » NYT poll: Vast majority trusts military’s Iraq judgment over that of Bush and Congress | Townhall.com::Blog | Townhall.com::Blog | Instapundit.com - | Michelle Malkin » Despicable, disgusting MoveOn.org Update: GOP calls on Dems to disavow the haters | Support General Patraeus And Our Troops | Political Vindication | Power Line: Moveon.org hits the bottom | http://www.qando.net/ - Unedited Petraeus testimony | http://www.qando.net/ - MoveOn.org should be ashamed. And so should the NYT. (updated) | MoveOn’s Attack is Disgraceful | Redstate | Follow-Up: David Petraeus Must Be Destroyed - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views) | Right Wing Nut House » ATTACK ON PETREAUS A SURE SIGN OF DESPERATION | Sister Toldjah » McCain and Lieberman on Iraq (PM UPDATE 2 & BUMP TO THE TOP-MOONBATS MAKE PRESENCE KNOWN) | Gen. Petraeus reports to Congress - The Long War Journal | USAF kills al Qaeda emir behind Yazidi villages attacks - The Long War Journal | The Jawa Report: 9 Iraqi Hostages Liberated from al Qaeda Torture House | Big Dogs Weblog » Blog Archive » Moonbats Deface Vietnam Memorial | David Limbaugh | Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Lantos lectures Petraeus about the war | Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Iran has pulled Hezbollah and the Quds Force out of Iraq? | Townhall.com::Blog | Townhall.com::Blog | Townhall.com::Blog | Instapundit.com - | Jihad Watch: Premature withdrawal in Iraq would be ‘devastating’ says Petraeus | Michelle Malkin » Showdown in the House: Petraeus/Crocker testimony Update: Dems pounded for MoveOn ad; Update: Fiasco…microphones broken…hecklers run amok; 1:45pm Eastern update: Petraeus interrupted by hecklers whom Dems refused to remove before his testimony began; Mid-July 2008….drawdown of 15 BCTs expected; Update: Crocker interrupted…the fiasco continues | Power Line: Petraeus and Crocker: Watch Them Here | Power Line: Code Pink and the Democrats | http://www.qando.net/ - Good show, General Petraeus, not that anyone will pay attention to what you said … | Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vandalized | Redstate | Petraeus: Overdressed for the “Party” | Redstate [...]
Pingback by Neocon News » Petraeus Testimony: House Edition — 9/11/2007 @ 4:16 pm
Why is anyone surprised that it’s taking a long time for the Iraquis to form a functioning democratic government? As was pointed out on another blog, they are starting essentially from scratch. How much experience have they had at self-government? It took our own nation a fair amount of time to do so, and the colonists did have some experience at running their own affairs (with Crown oversight). That a people with no experience at doing so should be expected to come up with institutions and procedures on deadline is the height of idiocy, IMO. The left, however, is so completely invested in the necessity of a defeat for us, that they continue to harp on the failure of the Iraqis to meet said deadlines.
Comment by irish19 — 9/12/2007 @ 12:08 am
Sorry, but Rick your post is so much drivel. You acknowledge Malik to be a failure then support backing the Sunni, a surefire prescription for endless civil war and a continuing stream of American deaths. If you cannot write in realpolitik, then who is your audience? Let me lay it on the line; Iraq must be partitioned. It worked in Yugoslavia. thanks to W, Iran now has a great influence in Iraq, and there is no getting away from this. We must now limit the damage. Free Kurdistan, Free Sunniland, free ShiiteHomeAlabama. They will set up thier own militias, how easy could that be? Let them off each other instead of US. We will have negotiated a separate peace with each, under terms we can still profit from. Al Queda becomes more isolated after the partition, they stand out like a sore thumb and will be eliminated.
Comment by bobwire — 9/12/2007 @ 12:56 am
@irish19:
Nobody on the Left is suprised — we’ve been saying for years this was an extended quagmire that doesn’t offer any hope of quick solutions, and has slim chance of long-term solutions. The Right is the camp that has been preaching “last throes”, “turning the corner”, “Mission accomplished”, “few more months to see real progress”, etc.
Why? Either our Administration is blatantly ignorant, or they’ve just been lying to buy time. Starting this off with “Hell, this is going to last for decades, cost trillions of dollars, and more American deaths than you can stomach” wouldn’t have got the American people behind it — so they lied. And keep lying. Few more months. Just a few more. We’re almost there. Victory is just about in our hands. Don’t give up yet!
There is no plan for victory — this is only a plan to stall and hope victory happens.
Comment by busboy33 — 9/12/2007 @ 12:32 pm
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39235
Comment by Melanie Haddon — 9/13/2007 @ 8:13 pm
Hi,
Thought this news might be of some interest to your readers:
NEW moveon.org TV ad coming out on Monday Sept 17th…basically calling President Bush a traitor.
Catch it here:
MoveOn.org TV Ad
For general david betray us fans or not:
General David Betray Us
Have a great weekend!
Steve
Comment by Iraq War Updates — 9/14/2007 @ 9:56 pm