Petraeus Pwns Wexler

Posted By Blackfive

Today was interesting...

Man, if I hear one more politician say "With all due respect" and then show none at all...how General Petraeus must want to put a Corcoran so far up their fourth points of contact that they will taste Kiwi...the man has the patience of a Saint.

I was on Jerry Doyle's show today to discuss the report, and Jerry said that, if he were General Petraeus, that he'd want to leap across the room and throttle Lantos and Skelton...I understand that, but General Petraeus is a soldier, a professional soldier. He's independent while in uniform (which is 24/7 now). Hell, he might be a Democrat (maybe not any more after today). Maybe he could have run as a Dem for President in a few years...

Anyway, Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida showed his @$$ today and got it handed to him by General Petraeus:

Rep. Wexler rants: "Tragically, it is my understanding that seven more [U.S.] troops have died today while we are talking."

“In your testimony today, you claim that the surge is working and that you need more time. With all due respect, General, among unbiased, nonpartisan experts, the consensus is stark. The surge has failed, based on most parameters.”
<...>
“In truth, war-related deaths have doubled in Iraq in 2007 compared to last year. Tragically, it is my understanding that seven more American troops have died while we've been talking today. Cherry-picking statistics or selectively massaging information will not change the basic truth. And please understand, General Petraeus, I do not question your credibility. You are a true patriot. I admire your service to our nation. But I do question your facts [and] ... testimony stating that the dramatic reduction in sectarian deaths is opposite from the national intelligence estimate, the Government Accounting Office, and several other nonbiased, nonpartisan reports."
<...>
“This testimony today is eerily similar to the testimony the American people heard on April 28, 1967 from General William Westmoreland, when he told the American people America was making progress in Vietnam.”
<...>
“We've heard a lot today about America's credibility. President Bush recently stated we should not have withdraw our troops from Vietnam because of the great damage to America's credibility.

“General, there are 58,195 names etched into the Vietnam war memorial. Twenty years from now, when we build the Iraq war memorial on the national mall, how many more men and women will have been sacrificed to protect our so-called credibility? How many more names will be added to the wall before we admit it is time to leave? How many more names, General?”

GEN. Petraeus responds: “Congressman, first of all, I have not said that the surge should be extended. In fact, my recommendations are that the surge be curtailed earlier than it would have been. The forces of the surge could have run all the way until April before we began pulling them out, and that would be if we did not recommend its continuation beyond that. My recommendations, in fact, include the withdrawal of the Marine Expeditionary Unit this month without replacement, and then a brigade starting in mid-December, and then another one about every 45 days. And that's a considerable amount prior to, in fact, how far the surge could have run if we'd just pushed everybody for 15 months.”
<...>
"With respect to the facts that I have laid out today, I very much stand by those. As I mentioned, the GAO actually did cut off data at least five weeks and in some cases longer than that in the assessment that it made, and in fact those subsequent five weeks have been important in establishing a trend that security incidents have gone down as they have and have reached, as I mentioned, the lowest level since June 2006 with respect to incidents and with April 2006 in terms of attacks."

“I stand by the explanation of the reduction in ethno-sectarian deaths and so forth.”

“And lastly I would say, Congressman, that no one is more conscious of the loss of life than the commander of the forces. That is something I take and feel very deeply. And if I did not think that this was a hugely important endeavor, and if I did not think that it was an endeavor in which we could succeed, I would not have testified as I did to you all here today.”

The GAO reported on only the first five weeks of data out of 10 weeks of Surge? I didn't know that.  Also, CBS radio reported this evening that the nine Soldiers and Marines that died in Iraq today were due to accidents.  Tragic.

I talked to Uncle Jimbo today during the embarrassing search for the Mic for General Petraeus.  Both of us agree with John Forbes Kerry that MoveOn totally screwed the pooch by showing that they are too extreme in their bias to be rational.

Finally, the highlight of today was that I was able to meet John Ratzenberger.  One helluva guy.  I didn't ask for him to go on record so I won't say what we talked about, but you should know that John Ratzenberger really supports our troops and this country.

Tomorrow, I am going to try to visit the MoveAmericaForward Pro-Troop Rally and 9/11 Observance here in Chicago (at Touhy and N. Milwaukee in Niles, IL, at 6PM).   

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Comments

[Cincinnati_Bob]

I'd say General Petraeus knew he'd be testifying before, and be attacked by vampires today, and his only course of action was Cool Hand Luke.

The Dems have gone so far the way of misdirection and outright lies, that I honestly do find it somewhat amazing that it escapes anyone other than the brain dead.

The media spins virtually everything to the point that I don't believe they can help themselves anymore. Like pathological liars, they have sunk the the point of not even knowing the difference. Ditto Democrat politicians. Truly amazing they have people driving around sporting their catch phrases on the bumper.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

PS - Give your psyhche a break and enjoy a nice tune. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBGLffHgnjY

[MICHAEL in MI]

Man, if I hear one more politician say "With all due respect" and then show none at all...how General Petraeus must want to put a Corcoran so far up their fourth points of contact that they will taste Kiwi...the man has the patience of a Saint.

I was on Jerry Doyle's show today to discuss the report, and Jerry said that, if he were General Petraeus, that he'd want to leap across the room and throttle Lantos and Skelton...I understand that, but General Petraeus is a soldier, a professional soldier.

Matt - This is what I have come to respect about those of you in the military, especially those who have served - or are currently serving - in Iraq during this COIN operation: Patience and Professionalism.

This is something on which I have to work every day to improve with myself. People who don't have any knowledge or interest in the military or in those who serve in it, don't truly understand everything that it takes - and what it means - to be a professional soldier. This is something I have come to know and respect though from following milblogs these last few years and getting to personally know and interact with and befriend people in the military.

There is so much more to a military man or woman than simply being strong enough or having physical stamina or being intelligent enough or being a good worker, etc. One must be a professional. One must be patient. One must have integrity. One must have compassion. The importance of these traits is clear when reading Michael Yon's dispatches explaining all the work the soldiers and military leaders are doing in Iraq in the COIN operations and interacting with the Iraqi people and the Iraqi local political leaders. Each time I read milblogs and each time I read Michael Yon's dispatches where there is a reference to the COIN Manual and what it requires of soldiers and Marines involved in COIN operations, my respect and admiration for the military just grows.

LARGE- AND SMALL-UNIT LEADERSHIP TENETS

7-16. Cultural awareness has become an increasingly important competency for small-unit leaders. Perceptive junior leaders learn how cultures affect military operations. They study major world cultures and put a priority on learning the details of the new operational environment when deployed. Different solutions are required in different cultural contexts. Effective small-unit leaders adapt to new situations, realizing their words and actions may be interpreted differently in different cultures. Like all other competencies, cultural awareness requires self-awareness, self-directed learning, and adaptability.

From “Counterinsurgency/FM 3-24/MCWP 3-33.5”

*****

IDENTIFY AND USE TALENT

A-19. Not everyone is good at counterinsurgency. Many leaders do not understand it, and some who do cannot execute it. COIN operations are difficult and anyone can learn the basics. However, people able to intuitively grasp, master, and execute COIN techniques are rare. Learn how to spot these people and put them into positions where they can make a difference. Rank may not indicate the required talent. In COIN operations, a few good Soldiers and Marines under a smart junior noncommissioned officer doing the right things can succeed, while a large force doing the wrong things will fail.

From “Counterinsurgency/FM 3-24/MCWP 3-33.5”

Those of you in the military truly are the best our country has to offer. (Yeah there are small exceptions to the rule such as Abu Graib and Scott Thomas Beauchump and the Jon Solz and the IVAW and the veterans who are just pessimistic and negative and fatalistic and angry and demeaning about everything, but they are clearly the exceptions to the examplary rule of the standards of the military) And GEN Petraeus was a honorable man among a bunch of dishonorable bastards today. And he was a true role model of honor and professionalism to which we all should aspire.

[spence04]

Hey guys, here is a link to video of some of that exchange:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2007/09/10/VI2007091001968.html

The look in the eyes of the General at the end of the video clip is priceless

[liontooth]

Speaking of John Kerry, why is it that when the Swifties that knew him and served with him and ran ads, they were Satan, yet moveon.nutcase claims that Petraeus will lie (betraying his oath) because he's Bush's lapdog, and Kerry thinks it's just 'over the top'?

Oh, that's right. He agrees with them, but knows he can't come out and say that.

[texas]

Blackfive. My husband and I attend the MAF Pro Troop Rally in Waco and Crawford Texas last Saturday. We had a good size caravan from Waco to Crawford. It was a heartwarming and patriotic experience. I encourage anyone that is able to attend on of these Rallies to do so...it is a great gathering and it is to support the Troops!!! There was only one "Camp Casey/Cindy S" protestor at Crawford...imagine, protesting a Pro Troop Rally...what a nut!!!!!

[vincenzo4]

MICHAEL in MI: I watched this AGAIN. I posted specifically about this despicable Wexler unit on here yesterday. It is a very sad day for this country that even the CG is abandoned, belittled and intimidated for the enemy to see. Nothing happens in a vacuum, and the cowardice of that party will cause us some very grave damage as it has well before the last election, with recent feedback from UBL himself. I will say it again, I have absolutely no use for the democratic party. I have read their collective body language and seeen the fruits of their efforts and have concluded that they are not about "...lives, fortunes or sacred honor..." Mister Wexler, rich boy of Florida has eloquently shown this lack of selflessness. Those of us who have served selflessly have nothing in common with those whose first and foremost mission is self and self-aplomb. This mentality is destroying this great nation and I call on Mister Wexler to step down.

[Marieanne]

I just caught a few minutes of John F. Kerry haranguing General Petraeus. Where in the hell does Mr. Swiftboat get off? Bastage.

[john Ryan]

All who do not agree with me should have their opinions denigrated and be attacked personally for voicing them

[Marieanne]

ooh. I guess you schooled me, huh.

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 09/11/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.
Today highlighting 9/11 posts, along with other must read info from around the net.

[Ymarsakar]

Man, if I hear one more politician say "With all due respect"

Well, obviously they are showing Petraeus the respect they think he deserves. Which is to say, none.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

Marieanne.

Get a load of Feingold and Biden. Wowo.
I think J Kerry made himself a non-issue in 2004. "9-11 didn't affect me." Classic.

Anyway, How can one possibly be so ignorant to a 4 star general who is living the reality. (They are Fully invested in Failure of course)
Plus that congresswomanette who was giving the general tutelage on the very book he wrote about counter insurgency!!

It never ends. Just when you think these creatures can't get any worse they mix up a new batch of slime :)

Truly sickening stuff.