Frustrated Senators See No Exit Signs

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Apr 9, 2008 11:39 AM EDT

Article Source: The Washington Post

politics, iraq, war, senate, hearings, conditions, petaeus

Asked repeatedly yesterday what "conditions" he is looking for to begin substantial U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq after this summer's scheduled drawdown, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said he will know them when he sees them. For frustrated lawmakers, it was not enough.

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Leah M's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: America's Need For Change, Anti-War, Left of Center
Regions: Washington DC

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{"commentId":1672173,"authorDomain":"lele"}

Leah M

The excuses never stop. "I'll know it when I see it" is just about the worst cop-out you can get. I thought he was supposed to be an expert. I don't think these excuse lines are acceptable... Ok, the whole Bush Admin is not acceptable.

{"commentId":1672173,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"lele"}

4 votes

#1 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 11:42 AM EDT

{"commentId":1673742,"authorDomain":"fscott"}

Frank Scott

I have to agree with you, Leah. Bush wants to cover his ass until he gets out of office, and leave his mess for the Democratic president. That way, all blame will eventually be directed to the next president.

{"commentId":1673742,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"fscott"}

4 votes

#1.1 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 5:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674102,"authorDomain":"newbroom"}

newbroom

Holy clusterfluque, crapman!

But after hours of questions, they acknowledged that they had gotten at least part of the message. The United States was still funding the roughly 90,000 Sunni security volunteers who Maliki's Shiite-dominated government is reluctant to put on its payroll

I've read today that there is conflict between Shiite factions in Iraq. Now this tidbit about the US bankrolling Sunni security volunteers. I can't imagine WHAT effectiveness continued US military presence provides the security of either nation.

Wish I'd of thought of that!

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told Petraeus. "I'm just asking you why you would object to asking [Iraq] to pay for that entire program,

"It is a very fair question," Petraeus responded, "and I think that if there's anything that the ambassador and I will take back to Iraq candidly after this morning's session and this afternoon's is, in fact, to ask those kinds of questions more directly."

{"commentId":1674102,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"newbroom"}

3 votes

#1.2 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 7:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674285,"authorDomain":"fscott"}

Frank Scott

Hey, it's only money. What's a few billion here and there when we're talking about trillions of our tax dollars this misadventure will end up costing us.

{"commentId":1674285,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"fscott"}

3 votes

#1.3 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 8:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674342,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}

Eric Albert

Leah M:

You need to replace the word "frustrated", with appeasing corporate, class parties, pretending anti war positions, while endlessly funding illegal occupation, Amerikan empire, empire bases, and so called "mistatkes", that are in fact class and imperial policies, which both the class liberals, and class neocons, Zionists, voted in their majority to participate in.

{"commentId":1674342,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}

2 votes

#1.4 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 8:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674346,"authorDomain":"fscott"}

Frank Scott

That would be one hell of a title, Eric. :^)

{"commentId":1674346,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"fscott"}

3 votes

#1.5 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 8:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":1675984,"authorDomain":"lele"}

Leah M

Exactly, what's a few billlion when you look at the overall cost of this war?? [Tell that to the NIH budget...]

Eric - Agreed! (just a little too long though...)

{"commentId":1675984,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"lele"}

2 votes

#1.6 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":1674278,"authorDomain":"jaymack"}

JayMack

Frustrated senators and a frustrated Nation. These meetings are a waste of time. There is nothing learned and congress and the Nation is still left in the dark. This general was off the learning curve a long time ago. He knows he can end this game to a sloppy success if he wanted to but his mission is to drag things out until Jan. 09. The 45 day freeze is part of the "drag it out" plan of his mission. How many troops will we lose and how many will be wounded while the general counts his fingers and toes and plans the next step. What kind of a general wants to hold things up while in the middle of a war and for 45 freakin' days while his troops are dying in the field. Is this what they learn at West Point?

{"commentId":1674278,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"jaymack"}

4 votes

#2 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 8:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674314,"authorDomain":"fscott"}

Frank Scott

I share your anger and frustration, Jay, and believe you've explained the current situation well. This is just another delaying tactic. If they really explained how bad things are over there, and how long this quagmire will last, McCain wouldn't have even a small chance to win in November.

{"commentId":1674314,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"fscott"}

4 votes

#2.1 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 8:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674480,"authorDomain":"jaymack"}

JayMack

Frank....All our war planning sucks....we keep making deals with the devil himself. In the Afghan war we made deals with the Northern Alliance group/gang and it never got us the big fish-OBL Now we deal with Sadr and whoever else will take our money and this Sadr guy can turn things on & off whenever he wants. We toss the bucks out and cross our fingers that it will work. We have no control over things. So long as it looks good at the moment, then it's OK. We can claim success for now.

{"commentId":1674480,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"jaymack"}

4 votes

#2.2 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 9:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":1674494,"authorDomain":"fscott"}

Frank Scott

So long as it looks good at the moment, then it's OK. We can claim success for now.

Exactly, Jay. That's how this administration has been dragging this war on for over five years now.

{"commentId":1674494,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"fscott"}

4 votes

#2.3 - Wed Apr 9, 2008 9:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":1675999,"authorDomain":"lele"}

Leah M

we keep making deals with the devil himself

Like my dad always says "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

We failed. The end. (Although everyone fails to acknowledge.)

Now let's make volume 2 picking up the pieces and we need to start by respecting people and life more than we respect money.

{"commentId":1675999,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"lele"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":1676676,"authorDomain":"fscott"}

Frank Scott

Well said, Leah (and with credit to the wise Mr. M.)

{"commentId":1676676,"threadId":"247620","contentId":"1420237","authorDomain":"fscott"}

2 votes

#2.5 - Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:38 PM EDT

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General Challenged To Justify Iraq Deployment	CNN	Wed Apr 9	0
Petraeus's Iraq Testimony	Newsweek	Tue Apr 8	1
After Petraeus Hearing, Levin is 'Disappointed'	Sally York	Wed Apr 9	6
Hadley: Iran a Threat in Iraq	Associated Press	Tue Apr 8	23
Bush embraces pause in troop cutbacks - Yahoo! News	Yahoo! News	Thu Apr 10	0

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Frustrated Senators See No Exit Signs

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