BlogHer - Petraeus - Comments

I tuned out

Pam — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:34:27 -0500

I listened to the hearing for about 1/2 hour and all I heard was Barack Obama going on and on and on and on.

What Virginia said. Quit campaigning and let the guy SPEAK. Sheesh.

Where are the questions?

Virginia DeBolt — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:58:25 -0500

After hours of listening to the Senators on the foreign relations committee make long speeches followed by a single question, I'm wondering, Where are the questions? It seems that the Senators are more interested in stating their own positions than in finding out the specific details that might be important to know in deciding how to end this mess. The Armed Services committee is just now starting. We'll see if they are any different.

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I just spoke with a US Military Officer

Morra Aarons Mele — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:11:13 -0500

and he said, in his understated way, I just wish all the Congressmen would let him speak, and let the public hear. How to do this? He suggested to get the TV and cameras out of there, and just let print journalists cover it.

I could not agree more. It's disgusting how this has been turned into another spin-zone frenzy.

You're right: the guy is a GENERAL IN IRAQ. He has a plan and a timeline. He's offered to let Congresspeople see it.

This military office also suggested that perhaps our Congress should take a "sabbatical" in Iraq's Parliament for a few weeks, and show them how it's done. Not a bad idea...

Pre-Rebuttals and All That

Pam — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:11:56 -0500

Even before the General's report was made public, even before he'd stepped in front of a microphone or a camera, we were hearing about why he was either

a)wrong
b)right

The whole situation is so aggressively politicized that even IF Patraeus presents a credible report, a reasonable plan, a factual assessment of what's happening and should happen in the future in Iraq, I do not trust we will hear it. There's Lindsey Graham blowing smoke all over the place about success. There's Carl Levin, taking down Lindsey Graham. NEITHER one of those Senators is doing credit to Patraeus's work on the ground - removed from politics, I'm talking that he's A GENERAL IN IRAQ - or the American population's desire to see an end to things BEFORE THEY LET THE GUY SPEAK.

A-hem.

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