A shocking development in the Petraeus testimony:
Gen. David Petraeus said Thursday that by September he is likely to recommend whether further force reductions in Iraq are possible.
The four-star Army general, who has been leading troops in Iraq, is slated to become the head of U.S. Central Command. He told a Senate panel he now believes he can make a recommendation for possible force reductions before changing command this fall.
“My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions,” Petraeus said. “I don’t want to imply that that means” a particular brigade or major combat formation.
“But I do believe there will be certain assets that, as we are already looking at the picture right now, we’ll be able to recommend can be either redeployed or not deployed to the theater in the fall,” he said, while repeating his past caution that conditions on the ground could change.
Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, responded: “That’s good news to most of us.”
On a less-optimistic note, Petraeus said it is unlikely that Iraqi security forces will take the lead in all provinces this year, as was recently predicted by the Defense Department. Petraeus said events in the past month and a half — alluding to a spike in violence in Basra — have pushed that goal to 2009.
It never ends.
Billy K
I’m so sick of this fucking war.
TenguPhule
FU too, General Betrayus.
The man whose career is more important to him then his fellow soldiers.
Incertus
I fucking hate these people.
Rick Taylor
The important thing is that the Democrats don’t give in to the dirty smelly hippies and precipitously end this war; that would be a disaster, especially when we’re on the verge of finding a compromise with reasonable moderate Republicans, that will get us out in a responsible way.
Keith
I tend to assume that the only way Petraeus keeps his position is for McCain to get elected. As a result, it is going to be very interesting to see whether or not he adopts the current administration’s “everything is politics” mantra and decides to inject himself into the process via his confirmation and other public appearances.
TenguPhule
Every general officer over Captain that was promoted during the Bush years needs to be shitcanned.
The rot is deep and stinks of Republican cronies and Insane Fundies.
Wilfred
General David Petraeus is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life, after John McCain.
w vincentz
Well, La-de-fuckin’-da…
Now that the cost of this “war” (illeagal invasion) is hitting the quickly disappearing middle class at the pump, and they line up for a six hour wait for a fuckin’ $40 gas card, it’s about fuckin’ time that they realize that their votes for the thugs that created this mess really DO have consequences. Crude at $133.18 and going up, schools going to a four day week, restaurants going out of bizz, housing and construction dead. Heckofajob Georgie!
Seems that the only way out of this is to put your hanging on pay-per-view. There will be plenty watching.
Next up, Cheney. Then Rummie, Condi, and all the other WAR CRIMINALS! Hey, let’s not stop there, include ALL the assholes that voted for AMUF (do you hear me Hillary?)
The REVOLUTION is comin’!
Bring it on!
For further reading, go to Tom Degan’s “Rant” and read the comments.
calipygian
HE also gave written testimony that our strategic position in Iraq would be improved if we talked to Iran.
Why is such a fucking America-hating appeaser?
calipygian
HE also gave written testimony that our strategic position in Iraq would be improved if we talked to Iran.
Why is he such a fucking America-hating appeaser?
Dreggas
What’s scarier, read dogemperor’s diaries at the GOS. He/She has been documenting infiltration of the military by the “God Warriors” like Haggee’s people and the whole “Joel’s Army” thing.
The Moar You Know
That’s the kind of “outside-the-box” thinking America needs to find its way out of our current financial crisis.
It’s also a great way to get some unexpected visitors from the Secret Service. Hope you’re ready for some company; don’t forget to make sure you’ve got plenty of ice and some room on the couch – you may be “entertaining” for a while.
Billy K
Does he remind you of Jesus? Because he reminds me of Jesus a lot.
Billy K
Oh, and I just want to say again; there’s only one Presidential Candidate who will actually extricate us from this fuck-up. I think you all know who that man is. (If you say hillary you are a misogynist)
Steve V
The administration has six months to play electoral politics with the war. I expect a withdrawal announcement and declaration of victory timed to provide maximum electoral benefit to John McCain.
SnarkyShark
Oh, it will end.
When there is a Democrat(Dirty fucking hippie) in charge to blame.
It can never be a Republicans fault.
That would be fucking with the laws of nature.
The Moar You Know
Dreggas: second your vote for dogemperor. She has done some incredible work – in a just world, she’d have a publishing contract and would be #1 on any bestsellers list.
She posits a coordinated and concerted effort by the ChristCons to take over the US Military; and has documented quite a bit of supporting evidence. Made the case as far as I’m concerned – I just wish more folks were paying attention to this.
RampantSexism
If anyone can explain to me the difference between the Betrayus Iraq Troop Shell Game and the Lucy-Charlie Brown Yank the Football Away At the Last Minute joke, I’d really appreciate it.
Thank you.
w vincentz
Moar,
I’m not afraid. Heck, I’ve got “free speech” right?
Oh…nevermind, I think it went away with Habeus corpus.
Ok. bring ’em on. I have other surprise defenses, as does Patreaus. He’ll be included on the gallows pay per view.
Tsulagi
This is becoming a Groundhog Friedman Unit event.
Petraeus is a political general. He knows he’ll have a new boss in January so he’s playing both sides.
Easily saw that in his last congressional testimony when Lindsey Graham, who’s been auditioning to be McCain’s chief fluffer, asked Petraeus what would be the consequences of withdrawing one brigade a month from Iraq. A position espoused by both Hillary and Obama. Of course little Lindsey wanted Petraeus to say all hell would break loose, the terrorists would win, plus service members lives would be at additional risk. Instead, Petraeus answered it was doable depending on conditions.
I’m thinking the “conditions” for Petraeus have more to do with the new CIC than the need to teach Iraqi Special Forces the side straddle hop.
Delia
Well, yes. This, in fact, will probably happen. Because the freaking idiots are probably getting ready to send the troops TO FREAKING IRAN.
Teh stoopid never stops with these guys.
Rick Taylor
Lucy only pulls the football away from Charlie Brown once every year; the Iraq shall game occurs about once each six months. Also, when Lucy pulls the football, Charlie Brown lands smack on his back right away. In the Iraq shell game, six months pass and everyone forgets what was said six months ago, except a few dirty smelly hippies who don’t matter.
w vincentz
I hope the /Ext link embeds. If not, sorry John C.
It has to do with “genocide”. This is something that the USA has previously taken a very strong against. At present, there’s no need to present inconsistancy to the rest of the residents of the planet.
LET’S HANG THE TYRANTS!
Only therein will the USA regain credibility in the world opinion. WE set the precedent at Nuremburg. Idiots forget.
Yes, my patriotic friends, there ARE consequences.
w vincentz
oops, please put the word “position” between strong and against.
croatoan
That’s interesting. When he announced the surge in January 2007, President Bush said “the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq’s provinces by November.”
Tax Analyst
…and maybe the parents, wives, children and friends of the soldiers getting killed and maimed so these assholes can play political games with War and mayhem.
But we don’t show caskets on the TV news anymore, outta ‘spect for teh dead & alzo cuz it’s in tebble taste.
w vincentz
TA,
No we don’t show caskets anymore. Look at what happened during Viet nam when real reporting happened. The “war” lost popularity very quickly. It became “REAL”.
So, now we have imbeds, and the MSM caves, and takes notes at bogus “press briefings”.
Fuck “Freedom of the Press”.
Hey Amerikaaah! Be afraid. We are the only ones that can protect you. So what if you have to give up some of your liberties…you’re safe. We’re fightin’ them over there so you don’t have to fight them over here. Trust us.
And bury your sons and daughters anonymously (cause they really don’t matter) as long as me and my buddies control the oil you addicted assholes depend on.
Dream on! There is no reality. There are no dead.
Believe us, trust us. We care about YOU. We really DO!
OriGuy
From what I’ve seen, you’ve got a redundancy there. The politics come with the stars. The more stars, the more politics.