"This is John Smith, reporting live from the beaches of Normandy, where Allied troops have launched a massive invasion aiming to defeat the Axis."
"John, this is Bob Brown back in the studio. When does General Eisenhower think the first Allied troops can start to come home?"
"What the . . . ?"OK, the surge isn't D-Day. But surely an important part of what we are looking for in General Petraeus's report today is his assessment of the prospects for success in Iraq, right? Wrong -- if by "we" you include CNN. According to it's 9 A.M. EDT preview of the report, the only thing "everyone" cares about is the timing of withdrawal:
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CNN Newsroom anchor Heidi Collins interviewed Barbara Starr, CNN's Pentagon correspondent.
HEIDI COLLINS: Barbara, what are we expecting to hear today from General Petraeus?Yeah, it sure is all about withdrawal for CNN. For that was the end of CNN's Petraeus report preview. Not one word about the prospects for success.
BARBARA STARR: Well, I think everyone is going to be watching for those key words, Heidi, what General Petraeus will recommend about when the first troops can come back home from Iraq. There's about 160,000 U.S. troops there, 30,000 of them are the so-called surge forces, the extra forces that have been in Iraq since February. When can some of those 30,000 start coming home? What everyone will be looking for will be General Petraeus's recommendations on when the first brigade, the first 4,000 or so forces, might be able to return to the United States. There's two schools of thought right now, and he might recommend perhaps in the December-January timeframe, security is good enough right now that he can do without them, let them come back early, send that signal. The other school of thought is, no, he will wait and say they cannot come home till April. April is a key month on the calendar because no matter what the surge begins to run out at that time; there aren't enough troops to go in past the spring of '08. So everyone will be looking at the calendar when he starts to talk; December-January timeframe, and then the April timeframe. It's all about when those first troops will be able to come home, Heidi.
COLLINS: Yeah, it sure is.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Comments Policy
The left
September 10, 2007 - 09:19 ET by iveseenitallThe "liberals" on the left want a America to be defeated in Iraq. Guys like Schumer tip their hand when they blame our soldiers' "failures" for Iraq successes. How illogical is that? The Dimos have champange on ice to celebrate if we do what they want--turn tail and run, waving a white flag. Sickening bastards.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
They Want Defeat, for now....
September 10, 2007 - 10:33 ET by mattmI don't believe the Democrats want any particular outcome in Iraq. Defeat or Victory; it doesn't matter. The ONLY thing that matters is whether they can gain or lose political power. If our success in Iraq could benefit them politically, they'd be all for it.
I have absolutely no problem with people who think the Iraq policy is wrong -I happen to disagree with them, but if they don't think we should be involved in regime change or in using the military to protect our interests overseas, that can be seen as a legitimate point of view.
But, I have a HUGE problem with those whose irrational hatred of Bush and whose main motivating factor is the advancement of their own political power has driven them to say and do things that undermine our efforts and amount to aiding and abetting the enemy. And they say Bush is evil??? THEY are the evil ones.
typical ...
September 10, 2007 - 09:27 ET by tenthreeleaderThis morning's Minneapolis Red Star Tribune has an online poll asking if General Petraeus will be honest to Congress in his report, which I find absolutely outrageous.
No imagination
September 10, 2007 - 09:29 ET by KC MulvilleThe media has no imagination. They can only see one story, and they can't grasp anything that doesn't follow that story. Remember what the 9/11 Commission said: this was a failure of imagination. When the media discuss this war, and all the issues the war provokes, they display a spectacular lack of imagination. They can’t imagine that the US could actually win a war without quick results. They can’t imagine a war that has no victory pictures. Every day, the media displays their Faustian bargain with liberals. They promote the liberal agenda, and undermine anything conservative, in exchange for the liberals’ promise to allow the media to be The Final Authority on what America thinks.
I can imagine a much different world.
Lennon
September 10, 2007 - 09:54 ET by iveseenitallRemember John Lennon's Imagine. He had no trouble imagining a world without religion, laws, borders, etc. His song says it all about the left's world view. Vote any Dem for president next time and we'll be on our way toward attaining all the "liberal" goals. Just imagine what we're in for, and be very afraid.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
But as Elvis Costello sang,
September 10, 2007 - 10:30 ET by Hero SquadBut as Elvis Costello sang, "Was it a millionaire who said, 'Imagine no possessions?'"
*****
"Why would the library ban a book like The Six Bunny-Wunnies Freak Out?" - Linus Van Pelt
Philosophy
September 10, 2007 - 10:43 ET by mattmThe problem with Lennon's idealistic philosophy, and that of the Left in general, is that is ignores reality.
Sure, it would be wonderful if greed and hunger didn't exist, but how are you going to get it, government mandate? Well then, who runs the government? People. Flawed human beings who are subject to greed and error and who , as Jefferson said can not "...be trusted with the government of others."
This is why a Constitutional Republican government based on the basic rights of property (free enterprise) and of conscience, is the best possible system mankind can hope for. It's not perfect, but unlike communism, socialism, or any other form of despotism, its imperfections are far outweighed by its benefits.
Millionaires
September 10, 2007 - 11:15 ET by iveseenitallYeah, Lennon the millionaire, Edwards the millionaire, Clintons the millionaires, Obama the millionaire, the Hollywood millionaires-- on and on it goes... "Liberals" are such hypocrites!
What I can't understand, however, is that they've been able to fool so many people. I guess the masses truly are asses.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
or
September 10, 2007 - 12:35 ET by mattmThe people are sheeple....
Backing it up, MSM style
September 10, 2007 - 09:58 ET by Mica the MagnificentAs soon as the first wave of troops come home, the MSM will collectively interview 1000 servicemen and cherry pick the dozen or so that think the war was lost a long time ago and Bush didn't listen and blah blah blah.
MSM will protect the dems by 'backing up' their decision to surrender with 'proof' they were right.
Failing that, they will
September 10, 2007 - 10:32 ET by Hero SquadFailing that, they will simply cherry pick some critical comments from servicemen who do support the war and think it is still winnable, but acknowledge some mistakes have been made along the way.
*****
"Why would the library ban a book like The Six Bunny-Wunnies Freak Out?" - Linus Van Pelt
Petraeus Report
September 10, 2007 - 10:00 ET by pocomocoThe preemptive strike against General Petraeus by the MSM and the liberals is verging on an SNL comedy skit. We hear comedian Chucky Schumer’s burlesque imitation of a US Senator as he portrays Petraeus and our troops as liars and murderers.
Next step for Chucky is Comedy Central and a gig on Last Comic Standing.
Let Them Be
September 10, 2007 - 10:10 ET by BourbeauWith Petraeus due on Capitol Hill, we can't save the liberals from themselves, nor should we try. Let them be themselves; let them try to embarass General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker and just maybe, they'll be left sitting w/their mouths open when these two honest men, with integrity, put them in their place. It's my belief that the American people will not take lightly to anyone challenging the integrity of these two men, no matter what their party. I urge all of us to tune into Fox tonite, at 9 PM, and listen to Brit Hume's interview of the general and the abassador. If their is a God, we'll blow the ratings off the charts as good decent Americans pay their respects to General Petraeus and listen to his assessment on Iraq and surge vs. those despicable gas bags on Capitol Hill and Moveon.org.
Bourbeau, I must disagree
September 10, 2007 - 11:22 ET by MikeBBourbeau, I must disagree with your statement "it's my belief that the American people will not take lightly to anyone challenging the integrity of these two men, no matter what their party." Many, if not most democratics will believe whatever the party bosses tell them to believe. If you don't believe me, check out the posts at dailyKos or DU just prior to, during, and after Petreus' report is released. For that matter look at what the supposedly MainStreamMedia is saying. And there are a lot of people out there who believe what the news media tells them, no matter what the facts are. As Kane once said, "Of course it's not true. But the people believe what the news media tell them, and I tell the media what to believe."
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Barbara Starr is dead wrong.
September 10, 2007 - 10:06 ET by Gary HallBarbara Starr has it dead wrong.
That thought never actually entered my mind. Without hesitation, this "everyone" will be looking for his take on what has been accomplished, and what must be done to allow the Iraqi people to be in control of their own country in some sort of a civilized and representative manner. That's clearly what the Iraqi people want - why cannot the MSM want what is best for them?
"Everyone" is a big word, Barbara. It really has little place in the vocabulary of a reporter. What you meant was the "MSM" will be looking.
Oh, and in passing.. perhaps this has been around before, but I found this video to be an indication of the success of the surge in Anbar province. Perhaps someone here has more background on this video. (;~> gary
US Army and Iraqis Celebrating victory over AlQaeda in Anbar Province
Just gossip
September 10, 2007 - 10:40 ET by iveseenitallCollins and Starr---"liberal" geniuses. The MSM has successfully made important news into over-the-clothesline gossip---"EVERYONE says...", "I'll bet that General Petraeus is a...", "Yeah, I knoooow...can you imagine...".
Modern "journalism" is just another version of The View.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
To sum it up, the traitors
September 10, 2007 - 11:41 ET by Conservative_in_mass."So everyone will be looking at the calendar when he starts to talk; December-January timeframe, and then the April timeframe."
No, not everyone. What if he does not offer up a time frame?
To sum it up, the traitors in the media have all the bases covered. If Petraeus claims the surge is working, he's a liar. If it's not, the Dems were right all along. Typical MSM "logic."
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Pathetic Cindy Sheehan among Petraeus disruptors
September 10, 2007 - 13:09 ET by RJShe was kicked out and and arrested. As soon as she makes bail she'll no doubt head straight to CNN, where she will receive honored guest treatment.
RJ - Sheehan..igans
September 10, 2007 - 14:30 ET by Gary HallRJ - Sheehanigans.
Isn't she still down in New Orleans demanding the end to the military occupation - "in New Orleans?"
(;~>
Those who advocate for a differnt path, should lead - not call others names.
Power
September 10, 2007 - 16:41 ET by JDWIn addition to a few party stragglers, we have .orgs and the Sheehans... refuting the General's report. The positive aspects will not be seen. The primary lib leader, bin Laden still commands yet his power seems to be far weaker.
JDW
CFR: Chung, Riady, Hsia, Trie, Huang, Hsu, Paw... Who's looking?
CNN's Wolf Blitzer
September 10, 2007 - 20:11 ET by timotheI've had a long-standing beef about CNN coverage of the war going as far as to boycott the network after they showed a video of our enemy killing US soldiers from a sniper position.
However, I did watch the first 20 minutes of Wolf today and found that their initial report of Petraeus' report to Congress was mostly straight. They even broadcast pieces of Duncan Hunter's response to the Democrat who basically called Petraeus a liar. (I'm sorry...I forgot the guy's name.) Even Michael Ware, who normally makes my stomach turn, was saying that the US needed to stay in Iraq.
Go figure.
CNN
September 10, 2007 - 20:54 ET by JDWOften CNN will be the only other network besides FOX to cover the unwanted stories.
JDW
CFR: Chung, Riady, Hsia, Trie, Huang, Hsu, Paw... Who's looking?