Think Progress

Petraeus: McCain’s market trip ‘helped the Iraqi economy.’

On PBS yesterday, Gen. David Petraeus tried to boost up Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) much-maligned visit to Baghdad’s Shorja market: “He was not protected by a cocoon of security. Yep, there was security there, but he out — actually he helped the Iraqi economy quite a bit, bought a number of carpets, in fact.” McCain did not reveal his goods, but Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) contributed to the economy by purchasing “five rugs for five bucks.”



86 Responses to “Petraeus: McCain’s market trip ‘helped the Iraqi economy.’”

  1. Alejandro says:

    It wasn’t a cocoon. It was a series of tubes!


  2. Spudge_Boy says:

    Yea! We fu*ked some Iraqi merchants for some rugs and then they were killed the next day, just so I could get a photo-op.


  3. Punchy says:

    “actually he helped the Iraqi economy quite a bit, bought a number of carpets, in fact.”

    Is this a f#cking joke? He actually said this….with a straight face? Holy shit….


  4. Perry Logan says:

    At this point, they’re just babbling.


  5. grytpype says:

    Well, Petreus is obviously a total whore now.


  6. Mark Z says:

    Helped the Economy?!

    The shopkeeper gave Graham the rugs for free out of deference to a guest. . . that happened to be surrounded by a hundred soldiers and five helicopters.

    If anything, they hurt the economy on even the most superficial level. Nevermind the dozens of people that were summarily executed yesterday in that same market.

    Bring back Shinseki!


  7. Jay Severin has a small pen1s says:

    Oh, the riches and spools that we Americans can bring.

    I hope they paid an import tax when they brought it back.


  8. barfly says:

    McCain did not reveal his goods, but Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) contributed to the economy by purchasing “five rugs for five bucks

    More bullsh*t. The shopkeeper has already said he gave them the rugs for free.


  9. Eric's Brain says:

    I believe the visit was “much-maligned” (though it was also “aligned” with the repub talking points :-)


  10. Keith Gore Wiseman says:

    WELL, GEE WHIZ, 5 BUCKS OUGHT TO FIX IRAQ. GOOD JOB GRAHAM!


  11. Jim Wolf359 says:

    Oh Man, It just gets worse. Gen. Petraus is showing a serious detachment from reality. Hey General, take a stroll through that marketplace. Lets see what happens.


  12. whiteyfresh says:

    5 us dollars is what, 4,000,000,000,000,000 in Iraqi dinars?


  13. madmatt says:

    I always get better deals when I have a blackhawk over my shoulder and a squad of armed marines pointing their weapons at the clerk….I got a mercedes for a $1 that way!


  14. ForTruth says:

    Well, yes, sort of, McCain and Graham helped the economy over there by supporting the party that sent pallates of cash there. So yeah, they did help it sort of.


  15. barfly says:

    On PBS yesterday, Gen. David Petraeus tried to boost up Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) much-aligned visit to Baghdad’s Shorja market:

    Sholudn’t that be “much-maligned?”


  16. Jackie Rawlings says:

    That’s good news that $5.00 means so much. If the US hadn’t stolen the 8 Billion dollars when they invaded Iraq maybe the country wouldn’t be broke.
    If Halliburton had stolen the oil rights maybe the people of Iraq could live of the oil on their land. Now all the talk about Saddam stealing the old makes since. Now the United States kill Saddam so they could steal the oil yet not caring about the Iraq people. Yes the US killed thousands of innocent women/children and torturing innocent men/boys and rape of women now isn’t it more then Saddam was accused of and should Bush be charged too.


  17. GSD says:

    Obviously the Republicans and the military brass have been pumping a lot of money into the opium market, because these guys gotta be smoking some serious shit.

    -GSD


  18. katy says:

    for shame…

    although the undertaker may have benefitted…

    how low can it go?…


  19. DutchHenry says:

    Would Gen. Petraeus also conceed that McCain’s visit also contributed to the murder of 21 employees who worked at the market the day after McCain’s market Photo-op?
    Keep an eye on Gen. Petraeus he is going out of his way to cuddle-up with the surge proponents.


  20. Anderson says:

    Lindsay, where are you going to place your blood rugs?


  21. Raven says:

    Read the current Newsweek article which gives some fees being paid to insurgents.
    $600.00 per placement for IED’s,
    children being paid $100.00 per grenade tossed………
    Guess that’s what he means by boosting the economy…..


  22. Anderson says:

    McCain did not reveal his goods..

    Tune into 60 Minutes, maybe he’ll display his blood trophies.


  23. Badmoodman says:

    Is the country of Iraq enveloped by some sort of stupid gas that only affects Americans?


  24. Tom says:

    Gee, it McCain was so good for the Iraqi economy, maybe he should just stay over there and spend every day shopping. GDumbya could claim that it’s his new plan for Iraq — the “McCain splurge”.

    We could probably pull out 20,000 troops immediately if Graham stayed over there with his little butt-buddy, too.



  25. Klyde says:

    The first 3 poster on that Wired blog are probably as insane if not moreso than jake patrick starfish and firehead. Two of them compared what is going on in Baghdad with crime in big US cities.


  26. Captian Stoobing says:

    Folks, ya’all need to just take a cruise on the Love Boat. Julie our cruise director is so high on cocaine she’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. And the Doc, well, he’ll prescribe as many boner pills as you need. And Isaac the bartender will set you up with Absinth and lots of other booze. Relex. And after that you can go to Fantasy Island. (Dubai)


  27. Dale says:

    From the interview:

    JIM LEHRER: Senator McCain also said the news media, American news media, was not giving the American people the full picture of what was happening in Iraq. Do you share that?

    GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS: Jim, that’s a tough one. I mean, I think that, if there is a sensational attack in Iraq, it deserves coverage. But that does tend to crowd out the fact that, in a city like Baghdad, there will be seven million people going about their daily lives, despite the fact that there may have been violence in the city that day.

    As we drive around, as we fly around, you know, there are soccer leagues out here. The national soccer team is on its practice fields. There are all the signs of normalcy in Baghdad, albeit, again, in a city that may have been hit by violence on that given day.


  28. Real RedNeck says:

    We’ll be debating this for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNG time Mother F’ers:

    From NY TIMES:

    Mr. Cheney again cited the war in Iraq as a key component in the effort to combat terrorism, saying “The war in Iraq is such a crucial part of the greater war on terror that we currently have our legal advisors looking into the possibility that the 22nd Amendment may not apply in 2008.”


  29. katy says:

    bob the hacker – are you here now?

    randi rhodes wants you to call her show

    866.303.2270

    if you heard cheney speak this weekend…

    did you hear him mention eleminating the 22nd amendment in ‘08?


  30. Dale says:

    Uh, did you get the “22nd amendment” info from here?


  31. AboveTheClouds says:

    Those rugs may have cost Graham $5.00, but they cost McCain his chance for the White House. Business IS booming for Baghdad undertakers and grave diggers. If Iraq is indeed Cheney’s central front on the “war on terror” we are all screwed.


  32. Zooey says:

    katy,

    Write him on facebook using my friends list.


  33. Spudge_Boy says:

    As we drive around, as we fly around, you know, there are soccer leagues out here. The national soccer team is on its practice fields.

    Next up, the soccer team is going to get blown up. Don’t these neocons know what is going on? The terrorists are going to blow up anything you point to. Stop talking about stuff and pointing out specific people or areas.


  34. IraqVet says:

    #29
    “We’ll be debating this for a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNG time Mother F’ers:”

    No, Sir!!!

    You’ll be dreaming for a long time!!! Now don’t swallow your chew, Redneck, because it’s making you delusional!

    Are you sure you weren’t born from your cousins???

    Just a question…


  35. katy says:

    zooey – copy and paste that…

    only 1 hour left…


  36. Tom says:

    “The war in Iraq is such a crucial part of the greater war on terror that we currently have our legal advisors looking into the possibility that the 22nd Amendment may not apply in 2008.” — per Darth Cheney

    Not likely, Darth. There will be many “legal advisor” ready and waiting to interview you and GDumbya when you leave office not later than January 2009. This time, the interviews will be under oath.

    Your accomodations in Guantanomo are being prepared right now, Darth.


  37. CONservative says:

    we currently have our legal advisors looking into the possibility that the 22nd Amendment may not apply in 2008.

    That should scare the bejeezus out of every American who loves their country. These sociopathic fascists will stop at nothing for more power.


  38. whiteyfresh says:

    facebook eh, i’m not on that one….
    back later..

    Zup Zooey!


  39. Badmoodman says:

    Uh, did you get the “22nd amendment” info from here? – - Snork.…By Philip McKrack, and on April 1st. You can fool some of the people all the time….


  40. katy says:

    that is spooky that realredneck posted the same thing…
    i couldn’t remember which paper she said it was from…

    real redneck – another randi listener?


  41. P3 says:

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070404/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_corruption_2

    Another 8 billion gone to corruption in Iraq. How is this helping Iraqs economy?

    How can McCain be for war yet also for putting so much money into trying to build an infrastructure, which is being torn down as fast as it’s built.

    This is a terrible idea to throw money into a nation embroiled in war.

    Whaddya think about that Realredneck ( tuff guy who won’t go to Iraq)?


  42. Patrick1 says:

    Why are you libs against helping the Iraqi economy? Would you people prefer that their entire country was on welfare in the same way you people want this country to be?


  43. Badmoodman says:

    From NY TIMES: – - Actually, the web address was newyourktimes.com, but why quibble.


  44. Zooey says:

    zooey – copy and paste that…
    only 1 hour left…
    Comment by katy

    Done. Hopefully he’ll check it…..


  45. P3 says:

    Oh great we can subtract McCains 5 bucks from the 8 billion (link above) of taxpayers money, plus the other 8 billion lost when Bremer was in charge.

    Fantastic Mr McCain.

    Just F’ing great.

    So which is it Mr McCain? How can you want war and at the same time keep throwing money into a bottomless pit?


  46. Spudge_Boy says:

    The scary part is that Real RedNeck is okay with having a dictator. Now you all know why I say that the trolls are literally my enemy. They aren’t people with a different opinion that I am trying to debate with. They are the enemy. They are trying to take over our country. I for one will not let that happen. I will take to the streets.


  47. Zooey says:

    facebook eh, i’m not on that one….
    back later..
    Zup Zooey!
    Comment by whiteyfresh

    Yep, whitey. TP heard you weren’t on facebook, so they decided to start a group there. :D


  48. Zooey says:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPUDGE!!


  49. CONservative says:

    Why are you libs against helping the Iraqi economy? Would you people prefer that their entire country was on welfare in the same way you people want this country to be?

    Comment by Patrick1

    Sigh…moron.


  50. EasyRider says:

    They need to fire this General.


  51. Zooey says:

    The scary part is that Real RedNeck is okay with having a dictator.

    That’s just totally incomprehensible to me. Doesn’t he realize HE will under the dictatorship, too?

    Now you all know why I say that the trolls are literally my enemy. They aren’t people with a different opinion that I am trying to debate with. They are the enemy. They are trying to take over our country. I for one will not let that happen. I will take to the streets.
    Comment by Spudge_Boy

    I’m with you on that, Spudge.


  52. P3 says:

    Why are you libs against helping the Iraqi economy? Would you people prefer that their entire country was on welfare in the same way you people want this country to be?

    Comment by Patrick1

    God your a fool, One day you say this war is on Islamofascists (Iraq) and the next day you want to build their economy.

    It is already a welfare state Fool. Are you blind or what?


  53. Dale says:

    The scary part is that Real RedNeck is okay with having a dictator.

    No, the scary part is that any of you people believe this even a little bit.


  54. EasyRider says:

    I bet Bush Patted this fool on the head and gave him a kiss too. And what do you know another Lieberman.


  55. ann says:

    Why are you libs against helping the Iraqi economy? Would you people prefer that their entire country was on welfare in the same way you people want this country to be?

    The entire country IS on welfare on the American taxpayers’ dollars, I might add. We’ve done nothing, NOTHING, to help the Iraqi economy. All we’ve done is destroy their infrastructure and make the country too dangerous to conduct business.


  56. katy says:

    The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution prohibits U.S. Presidents from running for a third term, stating “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice…” -NYT

    great… sure… run again, mofos… run again…

    this is just going too far…

    but what’s with THIS address:
    http://www.newyourketimes.com/content/article76649.html


  57. P3 says:

    P1, your truly misinformed, its you and your ilk that have purchased the welfare state of Iraq, teh people here said NOT to go into Iraq.

    You were all for that, and now your trying to pin your corrupt welfare state on those who said don’t do it?

    WTF is wrong with you? Can you not accept that you were wrong then and your wrong now? Your whine about your money going to help the poor in this country when Iraq is a bottomless money pit of your wishes?

    WTF? Did you really think P1 that this war would pay for itself? Are you really that gullible?


  58. AboveTheClouds says:

    For the past 4 years Bush has been unable to convince America to give a shit about Iraq–adding 30,000 troops to this disaster won’t change a thing. All Bush is trying to do is make it to January 2009 when he can just go away and say “It’s your problem now.”


  59. katy says:

    i sent a message also, zoo…
    i’m still a slowpoke there, but managed… heh…


  60. tarazan says:

    $1.00 a carpet….nice boost for the economy !!


  61. pgw says:

    “Did you really think P1 that this war would pay for itself?”

    of course he does; charles krauthammer told him it would. now, at $1 a rug, how many rugs need to be sold for the u.s. to break even?


  62. Raymond Funamoto says:

    “Helped the Iraqi economy?” WHAT DID McPAIN and RAT-FACE Graham HELP IT TO DO? COLLAPSE???????


  63. Dale says:

    #57, katy, it’s an APRIL FOOLS JOKE!


  64. P3 says:

    http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:1:./temp/~r109pF8qar::
    Under the resolution I offer today, President Bush would not be eligible to run for a third term. However, the American people would have restored to themselves and future generations an essential democratic privilege to elect who they choose in the future. -Steny Hoyer 2/17/2005


  65. pgw says:

    “it’s an APRIL FOOLS JOKE!”

    with bush at 30% in the polls, it’s not much of a joke


  66. P3 says:

    of course he does; charles krauthammer told him it would. now, at $1 a rug, how many rugs need to be sold for the u.s. to break even?

    Comment by pgw

    Prolly bout 2 trillion of them.

    Helo Zooster. =) -ZT


  67. Zooey says:

    Helo Zooster. =) -ZT
    Comment by P3

    Hey P3-ster. :)

    Be back in a while…


  68. katy says:

    you’re RIGHT, jake…

    chanelling rosanne rozannadanna: “NEVER MIND”…

    oy… good one… no disclaimer… no nothin’…

    here’s a much better one:

    With April comes a magic transformation

    By Stephanie Salter The Tribune-Star
    TERRE HAUTE — This is unusual but not unprecedented. Other onetime liberals — David Horowitz, Christopher Hitchens — have seen the error of their ways. Why would I be incapable of such a turnaround?

    I can’t explain how or why it happened. All I know is, when I flipped the calendar from March to April, something inside shifted. I saw the world as never before. If only I had realized the joy that comes with rejecting my liberal biases, I would have done this long ago.
    [...]
    http://www.tribstar.com/opinion_columns/local_story_090231558.html


  69. Tom3 says:

    After McCain left the market, gunmen murdered 21 of the merchants there.

    How is that helping the Iraqi economy?


  70. TR says:

    McCain’s visit sure didn’t help our economy when you consider how much it cost US taxpayers to send him on the trip and provide him with soldiers and helicopters. Is McCain’s campaign paying for that, since it was an obvious campaign photo op? Hell, no. By the way, was it also helpful to Iraq’s economy when body bags had to be purchased for the 21 merchants at that market who were shot the next day?


  71. lestatdelc says:

    Yeah I know when I go shopping for rugs, be it here in Portland Oregon or if I travel to Indiana for out-of-state floor coverings, I always go to the store aftert it has massive security sweeps the day before, and I travel with 100+ armed escorts, wear kevlar body armor, have sniper teams cover me, and have 4 Blackhawk helicopters and 2 Apache gunships circle over the store.


  72. Sharon says:

    Please excuse my tardyness today, been moving 6×8 foot solid cedar panel’s I was given for free..All I had to do was go 20 miles and pick them up….3 of us took truck’s and then gave out 4 per person for their yard’s and privacy….Wahoo!

    If the 22 amendment is abolished I’m doing more than hit the street’s, I damn well guarentee it…

    I agree troll’s are part of the enemy with in…..Nuff said..Happy Birthday Spudge and Blessings all


  73. Spudge_Boy says:

    The scary part is that Real RedNeck is okay with having a dictator.

    No, the scary part is that any of you people believe this even a little bit.

    Comment by Dale — April 5, 2007 @ 5:10 pm

    Wrong, the GoP has already brought this up as a strategy in the past and many of our very own trolls have brought it up as well.

    This is very believable.

    With all of the laws the Bush cabal has already broken or ignored, I wouldn’t put it past them to try it.


  74. chadwick says:

    Wow! The ridiculous load crap the Right and its new stooge, the US Military, spew is nothing short of EXTRAORDINARY.


  75. JimHurt says:

    Gas for three helicopters, pay for 106+ troops and air-fare to and from Washington, all paid by the taxpayers to inject $5 dollars into the Iraq economy. Yup, sounds like a Republican economic theory.


  76. katy says:

    i may be mistaken, but i’ve seen real redneck’s comments before and i never thought it was trollish…

    that NYourkeT article i linked to had some really good arguments and logic going on… like a neoCON playbook… yeesh…


  77. Eargy Earp says:

    You know, I kind of like the new Secretary of Defense, but this Patraeus fellow is full of “propaganda”, if not something smellier.


  78. Marie says:

    A photo op by McCain (Bush recently accused the Pelosi visit to Syria as a photo op) but this one is “approved.” The market was full of bargains – so the economy is “good.” See? Five rugs for $5.
    Such a deal!
    Too bad, that the next day those merchants were kidnapped and executed. That market has been bombed numerous times and will be bombed again.
    McCain, and his super-protected on land and in air visit may have indeed exacerbated the situation by targeting specific merchants.


  79. Briseadh_na_faire says:

    The alleged comments by Cheney may have been an April Fools joke, but this isn’t:

    H.J.RES.25

    Title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the 22nd amendment to the Constitution.
    Sponsor: Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5] (introduced 2/25/2003) Cosponsors (7)
    Latest Major Action: 3/6/2003 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

    The co-sponsers included 5 Democrats and 2 Republicans.


  80. Briseadh_na_faire says:

    Gen. David Petraeus – a “Loyal Bushie.”


  81. Jay Randal says:

    Sen. Graham’s contribution of 5 bucks to the Iraqi economy is nothing.


  82. Jay Randal says:

    Graham is a cheapskate. The Iraqi rug merchant basically gave him the rugs for free. 5 bucks in no way covered the cost of making the rugs.


  83. JPark says:

    Petraeus is the new Petey Pace. It is only a matter of time before he develops a conscience.


  84. Marlow says:

    Lie down with dogs, general…


  85. TC-24 says:

    “[McCain] actually helped the Iraqi economy quite a bit, bought a number of carpets, in fact.”

    A couple of carpets down to help the Iraqis’ economy. Now only 4 billion more carpets to go. Personally, I’ll take 26 carpets — I’m gonna line my garage floor with ‘em.



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