Petraeus on Iraq: ‘It has not worked out as we had hoped.’
By on Sep 7th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Petraeus on Iraq: ‘It has not worked out as we had hoped.’
In anticipation of the White House’s report next week, Gen. David Petraeus sent a letter to U.S. troops today. Brandon Friedman, who served in Iraq and is now a senior adviser to Vote Vets, obtained a copy of the letter and notes that most of it “essentially says what everyone expects him to say.” On the second page, however, Petraeus admits that “tangible political progress” on the ground “has not worked out as we had hoped”:
Earlier this week, White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten also admitted that “success” on the political benchmarks has not been “as large as we would have hoped.”
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Are the positive reports coming from Iraq signs of success? Or do the numbers tell a grimmer story? Read about this and debate it at http://www.thecoin.org
September 7th, 2007 at 12:20 pmWhat else should be expected from a puppet regime?
September 7th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
" has not worked out"
well, DUH!
No surprises here. Which is why there will be NO report by Petraeus as per previous thread.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:24 pmHasn't worked out as we hoped?
:|
Gee ya THINK?
September 7th, 2007 at 12:24 pmWe'd didn't need to see a formal document from General Petraeus to know what it would contain.
This is what the Petraeus report would have looked like...
September 7th, 2007 at 12:24 pmSo Bush had 6 month remission to sort thing out its not worked lets try withrawing and see what happens
September 7th, 2007 at 12:25 pmPerhaps the Iraqi government might be more likely to agree to an oil arrangement that didn't turn 70% of their oil reserves over to the multi-national oil corporations. Ya think?
September 7th, 2007 at 12:27 pmIf only Bush had listened to the Iraq Study Groups report last November 840 US troops would still be alive today
September 7th, 2007 at 12:29 pm"the oil framework law" need we look any further? Sorta points to the fact that indeed the war was all about control of ME Oil, and not to keep prices down either, but to control the amount of oil to keep oil prices high and climbing, (think Cheney's Secret Energy Meetings).
September 7th, 2007 at 12:30 pmInteresting that the New Strategy relies heavily on negotiating with former enemies.
Suddenly we are told that all of the former regime elements, bitter dead enders, Saddamists and rejectionists are America's great new allies.
Then we will shift to the new and improved enemies. Shiites who were our former best friends forever.
Talk about treachery.
-GSD
September 7th, 2007 at 12:31 pmIts not a case that America will get any oil ,,,,,,,,,, thats the problem so far,,,,
Russia , Norway and Iran have received oil deals America has only 1 service contract so far
Bush wants to unleash mayhem on the Iraqis to get some oil
September 7th, 2007 at 12:31 pmTime to BAIL out of Iraq!
Newt Gingrich said ''none of you should believe we are winning this war. There is no evidence that we're winning. ... This is a phony war.''
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/8/3/122320.shtml?s=ic
''I say to the president with great respect,'' Republican Senator John Warner said, ''consider that you initiate the withdrawal [from Iraq] .... 5,000 could begin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones no later than Christmas of this year. That's the first step.''
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/warner-calls-on.html
Conservative columnist William F. Buckley said, ''One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed.''
http://www.nationalreview.com/buckley/buckley200602241451.asp
Republican Senator Chuck Hagel said ''The reality is that we're losing in Iraq.''
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/050627/27bush.htm
Conservative Fox News commentator William Kristol said, ''Iraq isn't getting better, and Afghanistan is getting worse'' and ''The present trajectory is downward towards failure.''
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/05/AR2006070501634_pf.html
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20751366-7583,00.html
Bush advisor Henry Kissinger said, "I don't believe victory is possible."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/19/iraq.kissinger/index.html
Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, the man who led U.S. forces into Iraq, said ''at this point I'm not sure America really knows what victory is."
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=20937
Sgt. Kevin O'Flarity, a squad leader in Iraq, said "Half of the Iraqi security forces are insurgents."
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/27/news/delta.php?page=2
The top commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, said ''there is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq.''
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1487615.ece
The conservative magazine ''National Review'' said it's ''hard to deny that in some significant measure the insurgents and the sectarian killers are in control in the country, and that the fate of the American mission is in their hands.''
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDg4M2NlZjdkMWY0M2EyMzUwZDE3OTc1YmQwYTgxNjY=
"Honestly, it just feels like we're driving around waiting to get blown up,†said Spec. Tim Ivey of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072601666_pf.html
United States General Barry McCaffrey said: “This thing, the wheels are coming off it. The American people are walking away from this war.â€
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9064938
Bill O'Reilly urged the United States to "hand over everything to the Iraqis as fast as humanly possible" because "there are so many nuts in the country -- so many crazies -- that we can't control them."
http://mediamatters.org/items/200602220007
On the war on terror, Bush said: “I don't think you can win it.â€
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40815FE3F550C728FDDA10894DC404482
Republican Senator Gordon Smith said “I, for one, am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs day after day.â€
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002104.php
“We can't kill them all,†Lt. Col. Frederick P. Wellman said. “When I kill one I create three.â€
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/37/11850
September 7th, 2007 at 12:31 pmBut we ARE "winning", right? I mean, in this "war-on-terror", terrorism is on the decline, right?
As for this situation in Iraq, if winning means a free and democratic Iraq, won't Iraq necessarily be a Shiite-dominated Iran-friendly government with an expanded "radical" Muslim footprint in the Middle East? Thus, even if we "win" in Iraq, we lose in Iraq.
The fact is, we lost this thing, and oh so much more, a long time before Mission was ever Accomplished.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:32 pmOf course it hasn't worked out as they had hoped.
Rumsfeld had hoped long before now to be waltzing around his brand new mega-military bases in the Iraqi desert, protecting pipelines and oil derricks.
Cheney hoped to be pumping the Iraqi people and their resources dry to the bone from his penthouse in Dubai.
And George, well he just wanted to kick back in Crawford and have Alberto bring him the newspaper and Condi rub his feet.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:34 pmThe question was never whether our military could achieve tactical, battlefield success. It has been achieving tactical battlefield successes all along, and quite brilliantly. Remember the "Thunder Run" up the highway through Baghdad? We have the best trained, best-equipped, most effective military in the world.
The question was whether those battlefield successes would translate or bring about the political solutions necessary for the mission, as defined by the President, to suceed.
And the answer, as pretty everyone except the 29 Percenters realized months ago, is No.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:40 pmThe news from Anbar actually is good news, though.
We used our military to support an indigineous movement against totalitarian jihadists, and it worked. Just like when we did the same thing in Afghanistan and the Phillipines.
Of course, the total amount of troops in Anbar is roughly 1/16 the number of troops in Iraq, and nothing to do with the Baghdad Security Plan. What's been happening with the (largely Baathist, anti-government Sunni insurgent) tribal leaders is the type of thing we should have been doing INSTEAD of Bush's idiotic crusade for regime change against a target of opportunity that had nothing to do with al Qaeda.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:45 pm“tangible political progress†on the ground “has not worked out as we had hopedâ€
got it in writing, at least...
September 7th, 2007 at 12:49 pm...
Rebuilding New Orleans isn't working out so well either. Preventing levees and bridges from collapsing, isn't working out so well. Bush tax cuts and the deficit isn't working out so well. Protecting civil liberties, not working out so well.
Who could seriously ever imagine the dummies in DC doing anything very well such as rebuilding a country such as Iraq? If you won't a mess, have the government get involved and screw things up.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:49 pmThe idiots on the left have been trying to discredit Petraeus for months, but when they can misuse a quote of his, post it at the top of the page.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:00 pmThere is still progress on 7 of the 18 benchmarks according to the GAO. It may not be what he hoped but it is still dramatic progress. And this is all in only 2 months since the surge began.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:05 pmdont you dare betray us petraeus.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:08 pmA ray of honesty from Patreaus.
Actually, I think the General is a good man.
Can you imagine the pressure from Dumbya & Co on this man?
When they're done browbeating him, war will look like R&R!
September 7th, 2007 at 1:12 pmhttp://www.stopiranwar.com/
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All Americans want to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and interfering on the ground inside Iraq. Yet President Bush’s saber rattling gives the US little additional leverage to engage and dissuade Iran, and, more than likely, simply accelerates a dangerous slide into war. The United States can do better than this.
Whatever the pace of Iran’s nuclear efforts, in the give and take of the Administration’s rhetoric and accusations, we are approaching the last moments to head off looming conflict.
Cannot the world’s most powerful nation deign speak to the resentful and scheming regional power that is Iran? Can we not speak of the interests of others, work to establish a sustained dialogue, and seek to benefit the people of Iran and the region? Could not such a dialogue, properly conducted, begin a process that could, over time, help realign hardened attitudes and polarizing views within the region? And isn’t it easier to undertake such a dialogue now, before more die, and more martyrs are created to feed extremist passions?
IconPlease join the Iraq War veterans at VoteVets.org and me and sign the petition to President Bush today.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:13 pmhttp://www.stopiranwar.com/
13 joe - The news from Anbar actually is good news, though.
7 troops dead today
The four Marines assigned to Multi National Force — West were killed Thursday in combat in Anbar,
Anbar is under seige, Falluja ,Ramadi , anybody out after 6 PM is shot by US snipers theres not much food or water and medical supplies are none existing
BULLSHIT you read this http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/archives/iraq/000605.php
September 7th, 2007 at 1:20 pmHere’s what will definitely happen when Gen. David Petraeus testifies before Congress next week: he’ll assert that the surge has reduced violence in Iraq — as long as you don’t count Sunnis killed by Sunnis, Shiites killed by Shiites, Iraqis killed by car bombs and people shot in the front of the head.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:26 pmThe news from Anbar actually is good news, though.
We lost four soldiers in Anbar today. To me, that's not good news. There is no good news in Iraq and won't be until after we leave and the people of Iraq put their country back together again.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:32 pmActually, I think the General is a good man.
I disagree with you. Good men do not bow to people pressuring them to say things that are not true. Good men do not send their troops to their deaths knowing that it is a lost cause. Good men do not distort statistics to meat their political goals (like saying that there is a 75% drop in sectarian violence).
September 7th, 2007 at 1:34 pmRead a little more:
September 7th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Thank you for posting this link. I came across it on Google News.
As someone above said, this is a ray of honesty. I can't imagine that Patreaus would have allowed his report to be scrubbed. Excellent tactical decision to send a letter out to the troops. The admin then cannot go against what he said.
Katy ... you got it. The words were measured, but they were the loudest in the letter. He's basically told the troops that they have done a good job reducing violence, but the politicians aren't coming along. At this point I don't see how things can continue.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:44 pmThe news from Anbar actually is good news, though.
We used our military to support an indigineous movement against totalitarian jihadists, and it worked. Just like when we did the same thing in Afghanistan and the Phillipines.
Yeah! Or like that other time when we armed and funded an indigenous movement against totalitarian Communists, and it worked! I see no problem with that plan at all!
September 7th, 2007 at 2:04 pmAt this point I don’t see how things can continue.
Comment by Joe Rizzom — September 7, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
That's because you don't understand the metrics of success Joe. Success is getting to January 2009 without having to admit that Dear Leader is an inadequate fool. Success is leaving office without "losing" the war in Iraq and maintaining the ability to accuse the next administration of losing Iraq.
From that measure, things are going swimmingly.
And the number of troops killed and maimed to get there, and the Iraqis killed, and the money spent, and the honor defiled are just the cost we have to pay to support the Chimp's ego.
Are you with us or are you a traiterous defeatocrat?
September 7th, 2007 at 2:06 pmDid any of you actually READ Patreus' letter to the troops that is cited in this article? You thinksurrender.org clowns ignore an entire report of progress and accomplishments and take ONE PHRASE out of one sentence and focus your spin on that.
You people are pathetic. You have no idea the real progress that is made over there every day in every neighborhood. You've invested so heavily in defeat that you have no choice but to cheer for it and against success.
"We support the troops, we're patriotic" -- NO, you support your own arrogance and self-righteousness. You people should be deported. And you should be thanking Bush right now. He should trade each and every one of you for an illegal immigrant. Let's make NAFTA work!!!
September 7th, 2007 at 3:01 pmWhen one does immoral deeds, it's not at all unusual and it should be expected for it not to work out as hoped. Idiots!
September 7th, 2007 at 3:05 pmninja97,
Your God Bush sux. And swallows.
You pathetic losers will defend the indefensible acts of Boy George, regardless of what he does. All intelligence from Iraq that isn't spinning like a top points to no progress. 75% decline in sectarian deaths? F*cking bullsh*t and you know it.
Go blow the dog again, he’s lonely.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:37 pmbilbobaggins,
If the only thing you define as "good news" is the absence of American troops engaged in combat, then no, there is no good news.
If, on the other hand, you think that the fight against al Qaeda that Bush walked away from is something our country should be doing, then you have to acknowledge that having local, Arab forces turn from being al Qaeda allies to al Qaeda enemies is a good thing.
toasterhead,
You might have noticed, the Soviet Union isn't there anymore, and its defeat in Afghanistan is universally acknowledged to have played a large role in that. Which is not to say that we couldn't have been wiser in our policy, or that it didn't spawn its own problems.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:39 pmninja97,
First, let me laugh a bit at your handle.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!
Phew, ok. No, wait.
HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAA!!
OK, my second point. Yes, I read the report. There have certainly been tactical accomplishments by the military. If you fire off enough rounds, you can get your enemy to put his head down - but that doesn't necessarily get you any closer to victory, if you can't take advantage of that situation to, you know, capture his position or something. The report makes it quite clear that the tactical accomplishments haven't moved us any closer to the political solution they were intended to bring about, and which everyone acknowledges is the only way for us to get out of this quagmire.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:43 pmtoasterhead,
You might have noticed, the Soviet Union isn’t there anymore, and its defeat in Afghanistan is universally acknowledged to have played a large role in that. Which is not to say that we couldn’t have been wiser in our policy, or that it didn’t spawn its own problems.
Comment by joe — September 7, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
And that's my entire point. History has shown that we're really good at creating monsters and not too good at dealing with them after they've done our bidding. That's the problem I fear with the Anbar strategy. It looks good in the short term, but what happens years from now after we've armed everybody?
September 7th, 2007 at 3:48 pmPetraeus on Iraq: ‘It has not worked out as we had hoped.’
These are very similar words to those spoken by Emperor Hirohito conveying Japan's defeat in World War II. Hirohito could not bring himself to admit defeat nor can the Bush clan. Sad that a country has to go down in disrepute to further the ego of 'the decider', then and now. Why can't (couldn't) they have the grace and good sense to admit defeat and move forward.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:03 pmninja97, I take exception to your comments. You measure progress from a point of total destruction. Someone in Iraq may have water and electricity now after years of deprivation. However, under Sadaam at least they had utilities that worked every day. So don't try and give any spin to progress in Iraq - it is sort of like being half dead.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:41 pmBask in your ignorance.
September 7th, 2007 at 5:13 pmAre any of you even interested in finding out what's really happening "on the ground" over there? If you had a way to find out, that maybe took up a bit of your time, would you do it?
September 7th, 2007 at 5:23 pmtoasterhead,
I hear you, and it's a fair point. Bush has left us with very few good options at this point. We wouldn't even be worrying about al Qaeda being able to operate out of Anbar if it wasn't for this idiotic war. But, thanks to the super duper plan that couldn't possibly go wrong, here we are.
Considering all the options, I'd say that it is a good thing that the locals in Anbar have turned against al Qaeda.
ninja97,
Haven't you noticed that the statements from the White House regarding Iraq haven't been terribly reliable for the past few years?
September 7th, 2007 at 8:39 pm