What if someone gave a war & Nobody came? Life would ring the bells of Ecstasy and Forever be Itself again. -- from"Graffiti," poem by Allen Ginsberg [1972].
Maybe so. But what of the converse? What if someone sued for peace but the enemy didn't go along? That was the gist of General David Petraeus's observation today on the Obama withdrawal plan. Petraeus made his comments in the course of an interview with Andrea Mitchell, in Baghdad. A clip of the interview was aired on this evening's Hardball, with Mike Barnicle sitting in for Chris Matthews.
MIKE BARNICLE: Andrea, earlier today, you had an interview with General David Petraeus, and I'd like to play a clip of it when you asked General Petraeus about Obama's 16-month plan, and here was his response to you.DAVID PETRAEUS: It depends on the conditions; depends on the mission set. It depends on the enemy. The enemy does get a vote and is sometimes an independent variable. Lots of different factors, I think, that would be tied up in that and the dialogue on that, and the amount of risk. Because it eventually comes down to how much risk various options entail. That's the kind of discussion I think that is very important as we do look to the future.
View video here.
Yes, the enemy certainly is an "independent variable." Much as many Americans, the MSM notably among them, get a thrill from Obama, it just might be that al Qaeda—darn them—won't buy into his message of hope and change.
Give Hardball credit for airing the clip, but how much will the MSM pick up on what was a diplomatic—but ultimately devastating—critique of the naivete of Obama's plan?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Danger Zone
July 18, 2008 - 20:08 ET by Airforce_5_OAnd agian I ask, by anouncing WHEN he will be in Iraq does he relize the dange he has put our troops in????
By dragging along this media circus of the three networks and who ever else they can fit in that plane does he know how many of our young men and women it is going to take to secure the areas he will be in?
HOW fricking STUPID can this jerk be!
But what do I know? I am bitter and cling to my religion and guns.
Airforce...
July 18, 2008 - 20:13 ET by Clear thinkerI was kind thinking along the same lines the other day. With Obama and all these hoity-toity big shot newsies going along, it sure makes for a target rich environment.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
commie goals
July 18, 2008 - 23:06 ET by tejanodiablo.45 for commies in America
never look a gift skunk in the tail ..
"Obama will end the war"
July 18, 2008 - 20:14 ET by Chris NormanI don't know wheher to laugh, cry, or scream at the shallow glibness behind Obama's position (and the media's acceptance of it) that by bringing the American troops home that will "end the war".
McNotObama '08
Obama may very well end it...
July 18, 2008 - 20:19 ET by Clear thinkerBut at the same time he will lose the war. That is totally unacceptable!
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Clear, I agree......
July 18, 2008 - 20:25 ET by BEGRUNT"Dr. Hopeychangy's" traveling medicine show. Lets see how much "snake oil" he sells. If he ends it, and it turns into a disaster, a hard thing to live with....if he had a soul. I really think he'll flip on this one.....a legacy buster if he screws the pooch...JMO.
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
BG...
July 18, 2008 - 20:29 ET by Clear thinkerI just posted on another thread that I wonder how he will be recieved by the troops on his little jaunt. I'm wondering if his rock star status translates to the troops. And hoping deeep down that it doesn't.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
Clear.....believe me.....
July 18, 2008 - 20:38 ET by BEGRUNTthey WILL have a scripted moment with the troops, no doubt. It will really depend on the percieved enthusiasm of the troops. Remember, a picture is worth......................
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
BG...
July 18, 2008 - 20:45 ET by Clear thinkerI can see it now. Obamas team will send out a memo to find white Democrats serving in the local areas, and a handful of blacks too. Then ask to have them surround Obama and throw white carnations on him as he strolls to the stage.
Geeez, I'm gonna have to skip TV for awhile.
45 Communist Goals for America http://www.nationmakers.com/com_goals.htm
LOL....Clear
July 18, 2008 - 20:50 ET by BEGRUNTAll he would need is a toga, and they all scream, "CAESAR, CAESAR, CAESAR........LOL
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
BEGR....
July 18, 2008 - 21:10 ET by BlondeDo you, or anyone else here, remember the pictures of John F'ing (upon his big trip to Iraq)....sitting all alone in the mess hall...staring at the mustard? I suspect Osama Obama will get the same treatment. At least, I hope so.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Blonde.....I just read on Drudge this morning....
July 19, 2008 - 11:31 ET by BEGRUNTthat he is "playing b-ball with the troops in Afghanistan". I wonder how many were "ordered" to play??? I definately want to see those pictures.....
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
BEGRUNT
July 19, 2008 - 11:39 ET by BlondeFox is showing clips of him meeting with the Generals & locals.
No troops yet.
Well, maybe the troops will bean the Obama. I hope he plays baseball better than he bowls. On second thought, maybe not.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE AP
July 19, 2008 - 13:31 ET by ironchefofmunchiesIn an important breaking news event, Obama's trip to Afghanistan and the Middle East resulted in an important development that will shake the War on Terror and could very well change the course of history.
Apparently, while in meetings with members of the US Armed Forces, Obama discovered that the US troops were susceptible to head fakes AND the pick and roll.
Obama has announced that as soon as his coronation, er, election, is complete that he will immediately begin rotating troops home to work on this difficiency.
It is the hope of Obama that all US troops can be ready for the demands of 21st century basketball by the beginning of Obama's 2nd term in 2012.
More on ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News tonight including our bonus coverage from 7 PM to 10 PM on this breaking news.
(End of AP article)
B-Ball to a Kentuckian...
July 19, 2008 - 15:55 ET by Copperhead Ridge...can only mean basketball. I know the press has tried to push on everyone that King Hussein...I mean Obama...likes to play some hoops.
I'd love to get into a game with him. I've played basketball since I was six years old, but I've gotten old and slow. I compensate by throwing elbows and stepping on opponents' feet.
I'd throw a subtle hurtin' on Saddama Hussein. I could put my elbow through that skinny little stick.
Unfortunately, there will
July 19, 2008 - 02:13 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveUnfortunately, there will be lots of great press for Obama. There will be some troops that enthusiastically and voluntarily support him and will throng in droves around him. They are the minority of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, but they are there. And the media will make it look like we all feel great about his campaign and his policy ideas.
When I was stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada in the late 90's vice-president Al Gore came for a visit. Some people went crazy at the chance to meet with him. I (and many, many others) on the other hand, were very upset that his visit was interfering with normal operations.
I think that Obama will be safer than the average person while he is in Iraq. Al Qaida and our enemies desperately WANT him to be elected our president. But watch him talk about dodging sniper fire after his visit.
"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." --Robert A. Heinlein, "Beyond This Horizon", 1942
What is amazing to me is.....
July 18, 2008 - 20:16 ET by BEGRUNTObamatron makes "policy" statements before he even goes over there to see for himself.....I think the word is Naive? And who is he going to pander to? Will he say the surge worked? Will he flip flop once again? And, why the hell does he feel he must pander to the europeans? They dont vote in our elections. This could backfire on him BIGTIME!!! All it takes is one un-scripted moment.
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
What do we know about Petraeus?
July 18, 2008 - 21:46 ET by matthewleonmartinIs he a conservative? I mean more than an Eisenhower/MacArther/Schwarzkopf -level genius, is he a social and economical conservative?
Does anyone know, or has he kept his domestic fellings personal?
If he is, I would love to see him as a VP slot next time around.
Imagine: Romney/Petraeus
MLM, about Petraeus… I
July 18, 2008 - 23:17 ET by maggieqpublicMLM, about Petraeus… I can’t answer any of your questions about the General, but I do think about this new generation of volunteer warriors in our Armed Services. I can’t wait until large numbers of these men and women come home to assume leadership roles at the local, state and national levels.
Petraeus
July 18, 2008 - 21:48 ET by KC MulvilleEarlier, I posted about there being no chance that Obama will let Petraeus near a camera while he's there. They're going to script this thing so that Obama will never have to face the strategic reality that Petraeus is warning about. I'm more convinced than ever. No way they let a real commander near a microphone. And if one of the three anchors has the guts to interview Petraeus independently, I'll be delighted to be proved wrong. My guess is that Gibson might, but I'm not counting on it.
On my commute home from work, I heard a report on the radio that the Bush Administration is considering ways to accommodate Maliki's request for a withdrawal timetable. The radio wag was bragging that for all the complaints that Obama was naive, the Bushies were coming around to Obama's plan.
Well, wait just a minute. The whole idea of Obama's plan was to blackmail Iraq to step up to defend their own country. Bush's plan was to train the Iraq army to defend themselves. So let's remember something here -- this was Maliki's request. We didn't force him into a choice he didn't want to make. He's claiming that his guys (whom we've trained so well) are strong enough to defend themselves. That's a sign that Bush and Petraeus' training has paid off. To his credit, just when he could declare victory, Bush and Petraeus are advising caution. The Iraqis think they're ready, but Bush and Petraeus aren't so sure. It could mean many things, but one thing it isn't ... this is definitely not a sign that Obama was right. It's a sign that Obama's blackmail theory was irrelevant from the beginning.
Recently posted elsewhere...
July 18, 2008 - 22:04 ET by Tom1969caAs I recently brillaintly opined in another NB thread...
==
Conservation doesn't get us more energy. It's as if we were running out of food and the Democrats were telling us: "Just eat a little less every day!"
--Anne Coulter
A couple of thoughts on
July 18, 2008 - 23:54 ET by jdhawkA couple of thoughts on this news item:
Petraeus, by his comments, ensured that if bambi (aka 57 states) gets elected, he will be a retired general. And, since he will not have served three years at the rank of four start general, he will be demoted to his prior rank, three start, when he retires.
No one has pointed out that bambi (aka Americans must learn Spanish; Merci beaucoup) and the DNC er . . . drive by media have been talking all these months of the extreme danger of violence in Iraq, yet they are all hopping on a plane to go there. Gee, do think they were making it up?
You know there is legislation pending that will proscribe the use of contract hires to help fight our wars. This is specifically designed to rain in the likes of Blackwater. I wonder if there will be an emergency session of congress called to hurry this legislation through before bambi's trip? Do you think that if bambi and his entourage learn that Blackwater is responsible for their safety in Iraq, they will refuse to guarded by them?
jdhawk... I do not mean
July 19, 2008 - 00:04 ET by bigtimerjdhawk...
I do not mean this as a simple statement...
Excellent, extremely excellent points you made.
I cannot thank you enough...
We will never be lucky enough for anyone in the msm to think any of these obvious thoughts that they should of...after all it is supposed to be what their real job is .
You sure made me think...when really it is right in front of your face.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
What....
July 19, 2008 - 10:22 ET by BelnumCree"The enemy does get a vote and is sometimes an independent variable. "
How dare the enemy even consider not following along with Lord Obama's plans. /sarcasm lol