Petraeus’s office responds to misleading bios of lawmakers.
Petraeus’s office responds to misleading bios of lawmakers.
Last week, ThinkProgress highlighted bios of Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) that the Strategic Effects (STRATEFF) office of MNF-I created and distributed to U.S. troops in Iraq.The Washington Monthly’s Kevin Drum has received a response from Gen. David Petraeus’s spokesman regarding the bios:
First, the sheets of paper were open-source bio’s that were put together based on the members’ web sites and the Congressional Quarterly. Second, these bio’s were provided to those that were going to meet with the members, just as the members recieve bio’s of the key individuals they are going to meet with at their request. Third, the bio’s are only there to assist those that they are meeting with to know how in-depth and the members background knowledge based on topic area that they will be discussing.
For example, if a member is not part of the HASC or SASC, more explanations may be required on the military programs/operations than with those that are members of those committees that are more likely to be familiar with the terms of reference. As such if there is a member dealing in appropriations, those that they are meeting with will know from which direction they may approach issues and can be better prepared to respond. This is the simple thing of knowing your audience, nothing more, and to suggest otherwise is completely false.
But as ThinkProgress pointed out last week, the bios either ignored or completely misrepresented the lawmakers’ records, falsely claiming, for example, that Moran “[v]oted NO on legislation requiring the withdrawal of U S troops from Iraq within 120 days of the bill’s enactment.”
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Misrepresentation IS fraud and if Petreus was the author of these bios or approved them for distribution, then he needs to be investigated for “cherry picking” the information – sounding familiar, ala Iraq War intel?? General Betray-us is just another Bush puppet and sycophant. Amazing what a human being will do to his soul merely for a paycheck, isn’t it?
September 4th, 2007 at 9:53 amBush sucks!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:53 amSo does Patraeus!
veritas,Agreed!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:53 amBush sucks!
No need to “cherry pick” the information about Bush’s presidency – it’s ALL horrendous!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:54 amBush sucks!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:54 amBush is a loser!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:54 amThis group of con men need to be stopped by impeachment – impeachment is the ONLY way to stop the obvious increased destruction of this country by the Bush Cabal. A year is a very long time in terms of destruction capability and he’s hell bent on destroying this democracy.
IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY OPTION, CONGRESS! GET WITH IT!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:55 amBut, did Patraeus write that, or did the WH staff write the bios?
We hear Pataeus is writing the Sept. report, but the WH fingerprints are all over it.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:55 amI hate Bush!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:55 amWhen Congress reconvenes, the message from americans needs to be crystal clear: IMPEACHMENT, IMPEACHMENT, IMPEACHMENT.
Then the ACLU and Red Cross along with the rest of the foreign countries can move forward with a war crimes tribunal, ala Nuremberg style.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:56 amAll the mumbo-jumbo that Petraeus’ office spewed did not address the problems witht he bios…..namely the lies.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:58 amToo bad military overseas can’t see this on ThinkProgress.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:59 amZimzone: The buck stops at the top, as we all know so obviously Bush’s fingerprints are all over these bios – along with everything else anyone under him has criminally done. He’s culpable by association if not directly.
As for General Betray-us, it’s a foregone conclusion that he’s Bush’s “fall guy” and “puppet” so they’re both involved in this smear campaign.
What Dumko fails realize is how ridiculous his photo op was to most americans yesterday. They laughed their asses off at this moron. Did he really think the people wouldn’t realize that he never left the base?? Duh! No fool like a W fool!
September 4th, 2007 at 9:59 amMaybe The Chimp should take that cutsey little photo snapped at the military base and make a new “baseball card” for himself now??
September 4th, 2007 at 10:00 amNo fool like an old fool.
General Betray-us is Bush’s “pimp” – nothing more and eveyrone knows it.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:00 amWhich begs the question: Will Congress have “enough” on September 11 when the marches go forward and the strikes take place to move forward with the impeachable offenses they have?? Impeachment should be a “slam dunk” on this charlatan.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:01 amMr. President -
What’s wrong? You afraid of them knowing the truth? Much better when all they have to go on is you propaganda, right?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:02 amNot at all, bobcat_grad — they get all the truth they need from the horse’s mouth — I just don’t want them wasting time instead of doing their jobs (like you folks here).
September 4th, 2007 at 10:06 amMaybe these senators will sue for misrepresentation and defamation of character?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:10 am#18 – “I just don’t want them wasting time instead of doing their jobs (like you folks here).” Comment by Mr. President — September 4, 2007 @ 10:06 am
Says the man who wastes his time here rather than doing his job.
A Moral Requirement for being a Republican: Do as I say, not as I do.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:11 amMr. President sez:
Yes, Mr. Pee, it is “too bad”. It’s too bad that our soldiers are being lied to by our corrupt and criminal government, and that they are being denied resources that would expose these lies.
Or are you OK with our government lying to our troops?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:12 amToo bad military overseas can’t see this on ThinkProgress.
Comment by Mr. President
I agree Mr. Pee. If they could read this blog they would be able to see that they are not alone. That there are people who care about them and the hopeless situation they have been placed in. They would see that there are people back home who want to see them get proper rest, the proper armament (like Dragon Skin), and be properly trained. And they would see that there are people who care about the fact that they are being killed for nothing more than Bush’s quest to steal Iraq’s oil. If they could read this blog, they would know that there is someone out there that thinks like they do, but they can’t say what they think because they are terrified of what would happen to them if they spoke up.
So, for once Mr Pee, I agree with you.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:12 amI hate Bush!
Comment by Donald Duck — September 4, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Good morning, Mr. P! Looking for something to blog about?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:13 amMr. Pee sez:
I see…all the truth they need. How very Orwellian of you.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:13 amClaim: “This is the simple thing of knowing your audience, nothing more, and to suggest otherwise is completely false. ”
Fact: They had false information about the people they were meeting. Is ‘false info’ sound info to help in communication? NO!
September 4th, 2007 at 10:13 amMr. Pee sez: they get all the truth they need from the horse’s mouth.
Ahhh, Mr. Pee, I believe that would be the horse’s ass.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:14 amHave to get back to meetings with John Howard, folks . . .
September 4th, 2007 at 10:15 amDean CT
I’d say you would appeal quite strongly to the rightwing judging by the comments on that site.
Particularly the ones that favour genocide.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:26 amThis is the simple thing of knowing your audience, nothing more, and to suggest otherwise is completely false.
well, evidently, someone must have a grasp of that word “false”…
but nothing of the rambling (did rummy write that?) “explanation” did anything to address the original complaint, which was: “the bios either ignored or completely misrepresented the lawmakers’ records”…
so, how can one know that “audience” when given LIES…
September 4th, 2007 at 10:28 am…
Has Petraeus been taking lessons from Tony Snow? His double-talk sounds just about the same and doesn’t address the central issue regarding the falsification of the records of certain visting dignitaries.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:31 amThe person who called Patraeus, Betrayus, has it completely right. Think about it, there’s no way this guy is going to say he’s done a bad job. Who would? When is the last time you went to your boss and said, “Boss, I’m doing a bad job’, never right? So what fool in his right mind think betrayus is going to do that. If there is anyone, I have some ocean front property in Idaho I’d like to sell them. Get it, I-Da-Ho, as in Craig He-da-ho, from Idaho. Ha ha ha ha! Craig denied he’s gay, so who thinks Patraeus is going to give himself a failing grade?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:40 amRebutting people’s concerns by ignoring them… If you don’t like the (implications of an) answer, disregard the question.
I’d say that’s par for the course for these tools.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:50 amThe Shadow
I’ve done that before – and you know what? It accrued me some respect. Denying that you have stuffed up when you have been caught out isn’t a strong case for your continued employment – it hints at nasty things like you not being able to learn from your errors.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:51 amthey get all the truth they need from the horse’s mouth
Believe everything you hear, do you?
Another tool.
Horses LIE.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:53 amI hate Bush!
September 4th, 2007 at 11:03 amI hope 1,000 US tropops die a month so Bush will be forced to leave Iraq!
September 4th, 2007 at 11:04 amDean CT sez (emphasis mine):
And that’s where you lost me. Nice try, though…
September 4th, 2007 at 11:07 amAnd that’s where you lost me. Nice try, though…
Comment by TripMaster Monkey — September 4, 2007 @ 11:07 am
It’s pretty funny, actually. I have it linked from my blog. It’s an excellent source of wingnut lunacy and illogic.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:13 amWow – Lil Weezy… or Weeky… or LIl… you get paid by the post?
Only a right-wing troll would reduce the valid and nuanced concerns of fellow citizens to such a blatant oversimplification.
You’re such a bad joke I can’t help but laugh. AT you, not WITH you, in case you get bonuses for replies that help your cause.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:14 amI hope 1,000 US tropops die a month so Bush will be forced to leave Iraq!
Comment by Lil Weeky — September 4, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Bush shares your hope, and won’t leave if 2000 a month die. Bush likes killing Americans, as he proved on 9/11, during Katrina, and in Iraq. There is no worse enemy of America than george bush, and no bigger terrorist in the world.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:14 amDean CT:
“I respectfully ask everyone to leave a comment according not to your political disagreement (I expect that you won’t agree), but how you believe it would appeal to the average reader or average Republican.”
______________________
You want to know if the average Republican will like Mr. Pee’s blog? Does it discuss the grandeur in the latest trends in bathroom sex or diaper fetishes?
September 4th, 2007 at 11:15 am“I respectfully ask everyone to leave a comment according not to your political disagreement (I expect that you won’t agree), but how you believe it would appeal to the average reader or average Republican.â€
LOL – so you want us to post non-political views and opinions on a poitical blog??? Therefore making it an implicit agreement with your wack-job rightwingeries???
You would rather ‘appeal’ to people than debate an issue and discuss documented truth??? Are you so stupid as to think we are so stupid we’d do that?
Or do you just want a foil to rail against so you can increase the trafiic of the rabid kool-aid drinkers that your site would ‘appeal’ to?
I won’t bother even giving you a page hit, much less a post.
You.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:20 amAre.
A.
Tool.
Petraeus clearly is well versed in republican stonewalling techniques.
Address the problem without ever addressing the actual issues with it.
He conveniently ignores the questions as to the falsified voting records in the bios.
His evasive and deceptive skills are growing strong. What a fine neocon he’ll make.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:47 amKey:
The strategy is for Tom Davis to assume Warner’s seat instead of Moran. That’s why Warner offers a flimsy support for troop withdrawal to ensure VA voters actually pay some attention when he recommends Davis…and of course the plan to discredit Moran
September 4th, 2007 at 11:58 amGuess this response to the bio fiasco tells us all we need to know about the coming “Betrayus/BushCo” Surge report. The BS will be stacked higher than Dubya’s inflatable codpiece!
September 4th, 2007 at 12:05 pmJeez, Who wrote that response? While first reading it, it felt familiar. There was a lot of doublespeak, condescension, even the implication that they were just doing what everyone else was doing.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:05 pmIt has been along time since I’ve heard that sort gobbledygook; McNamara in the sixtys. There was some Rumsfield in the text. But smoother. It (the response) was a complex answer to a simple question. However, the underlying message was a simple answer. “We will tell you exactly what WE want you to know. We will find any abstraction we can. We will take you in circles. We will even lie to you. But you will hear what WE want you to hear”.
Let us remember who we are dealing with.
footsore