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Ken Gies of Lakewood writes:

President Bush relying on testimony from General Petraeus (RMN.com “Petraeus Drawdown to begin...) is tantamount to asking the fox how to secure the hen house. It is similar to seeing a doctor about a back ache. Ask the GP and they will tell you to take medicine and get plenty of rest. Ask an Orthopedic Surgeon and surgery will be the recommendation. Isn’t it about time to take a lesson from the mistakes made by politicians during the Viet Nam era? Isn’t it about time to listen to the American people? More than 60% percent of us are demanding an immediate and substantial drawdown of our troops. 30,000 by July 2008 is only an indication of the puppet strings that lead directly to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It is NOT patriotic to sit idly by while hundreds more of our brave and dedicated men and women die in a war that is destined to end in Iraqi chaos and is already embroiled in religious/sectarian strife. The blood of true Americans should not be spilled to further Mr. Bush’s, or anyone’s political agenda, nor in a futile effort to salvage the legacy of what history will remember as the worst administration in U.S. history. I love my country, I support our troops and I pray for her leaders, but the current situation is a disaster and needs to be righted long before July of 2008. We may have saved Iraq from a debacle, but meanwhile how many American lives has it, or will it cost before we wake up and do the right thing?

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READER COMMENTS

Ken: What is our responsibility to the people of Iraq and furthermore, is our military presence in Iraq furthering the United States' foreign policy interests?

No matter whether you supported or disagreed with the overthrow of Saddam's regime, these are the questions that are now the only relevant questions to answer.

I believe that we have both a responsibility to Iraq's people to prevent the sectarian bloodbath that I believe would ensue if we precipitiously left Iraq and our national self interest in fighting Islamic terrorism. Preventing genocide is what we have an obligation to do where it is both in our power and at an acceptable cost. It is definitely within our power. The acceptable cost ties in with our own self interest.

You may not believe that it is in our self interest and of course, that is what the current debate is all about.

One final point. Our system of government obligates the military to give their most candid appraisal of military situations to the Commander in Chief (CIC). When you cast dispersions on a decorated general and by any objective measurement, a consummate military professional who epitomizes the finest qualities of integrity and objectivity, you subvert and weaken the fundamental core of our society. The military serve us as a people whether we have a democratic or republican administration.

You can question Petraeus' conclusions, but questioning his integrity may lead us all to anarchy.

Isn't funny how the General was seen as the savior congress was looking for when nominated. Sailing through the confirmation process with the full endorsement of both parties.

Now he delivers exactly what they asked him to and when the news goes against their "opinions", he's now a Bush lacky. He's more man and soldier than Kerry, McCain, Murtha were and could ever hoped to have been.

Another fine man who has had his reputation ruined by his association with Bush. Colin Powell will never be respected and Petraeus is headed down the same road. Bush is a complete derelict.

Today's RMN, page p.35. Compare and contrast the Krugman article and the Krauthammer one.

Looks like the place to invest money is in map makers. There will be a Kurdistan and three other countries when this is finished.

For a brief video on how incredibly credible Petraeus is, go to: http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/09/10/no-more-flack-for-iraq. It is a complete myth that Petraeus is anything but a lap dog for a failed administration that is continually lookng for someone new to deliver its messages.

Whatever else Petraeus is (I don't know anything about his military career), he is assuredly another in a series of stooges the Bush administration uses to deliver messages now that their credibility is shot to hell.

Nice link Grog. Partnership for a "blue" america is it? Gee, that sounds so fair and unbiased I'm just beside myself.

You and am760 have some real choice sites. I can see now where you get your thoughts and ideas.

But back to reality, your ilk are just a bit upset so you slam the General. A four star General in the US Military. He serves whoever is the CIC. Your dems buddies in congress approved him for Commander, MNF-Iraq.

Now that he won't shill for the left you denegrade him.

Bush and Patraeus conclude that withdrawal can now begin and you still whine.

You are totally pathetic.

From Grog's link. Jane Hamsher regarding the ad:

"So here's the rule. You never repeat right wing talking points to attack your own, ever. You never enter that echo chamber as a participant. Ever. You never give them a hammer to beat the left with. Just. Don't. Do. It. . . .

There are any number of ways you can answer that question well and none of them involve attacking MoveOn. They're out there on the left so you can look "moderate." They're saying what needs to be said, opening the conversation up so John Edwards isn't considered the left-wing fringe loon that nobody should listen to.

Now wait a minute, has Hamsher just characterized MoveOn.org as a bunch of left-wing fringe loons that nobody should listen to? And didn't she earlier describe said loons as being on the Edwardses' "own side"? Mrs. Edwards's criticism of MoveOn.org is perfectly consistent with the dynamic Hamsher describes, portraying herself (and by implication her husband) as moderate by contrast. She's just doing the Hamsher dance.

At least Grogs site didn't feel the need to publish anymore racist photos.

Is this what you stand for Grog?

Iraq needed its own General Westmoreland.

I'm an Architect. I think we need more buildings in this country. Schools are falling apart. Hire me to design more schools. We need them.

I'll only charge 10 billion for a design. I can be the "Halliburton" of Architects.

Too bad I don't know ass (w.) or dick.

rick,I bet you know ass inside and out.

I sure know how it feels when 'An American' is lined up behind mine mmmm I love that man!!!!

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