Video: “Politics vs. Petraeus”
posted at 11:52 am on April 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A preemptive strike from the RNC ahead of tomorrow’s testimony. Spots like this are a double-edged sword, of course, in the same way that Iraqis praying for a McCain victory are: They prove the GOP’s point that a significant troop presence is needed at the price of reminding the viewer that the peace won by the surge is so fragile. I hate the bit at the end, too, about disregard for “our general,” which does Petraeus’s credibility as an objective observer no favors in the context of an ad by a political party (yeah, I realize “our” ostensibly refers to Americans, not Republicans, but how many Democrats do you know who are strong “Betray Us” supporters?) and also reduces Hillbama’s withdrawal plan to some sort of personal affront to him instead of emphasizing how it tacitly accepts the prospect of genocide in Iraq. Which, incidentally, even the group that produced the Baker-Hamilton commission now recognizes.
Something to watch for tomorrow is the role, or lack thereof, of Al Qaeda in Iraq in the questions and answers. We may end up with a bizarro world scenario where, instead of telling Petraeus that his claims of progress defy belief, the Democrats pivot and insist that AQI has been flatly defeated, thereby permitting a “mission accomplished” withdrawal with rising tensions among the Shiites no concern of ours. Why, if they’re feeling especially cheeky, they might even roll this new clip from MEMRI of Sunni Awakening leader Ali Hatem Ali Suleiman explaining why it’s so important to ruthlessly kill Al Qaeda. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, but the man does give good soundbite.
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Left wing political fools vs. Patreaus. It’s so sad that such a brilliant and courageous man should be placed a the mercy of these functional cretins.
rplat on April 7, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Forget Al Qaeda in Iraq, how about a little “straight talk” about Iran in Iraq? I don’t think the Democrats could handle it.
rhombus on April 7, 2008 at 12:07 PM
davidk on April 7, 2008 at 12:07 PM
“yeah, I realize “our” ostensibly refers to Americans, not Republicans, but how many Democrats do you know who are strong “Betray Us” supporters?”
Or AMERICA supporters for that matter.
Tony737 on April 7, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I agree with your take on “our general” Allahpundit. That skews the ad into one for the base to raise money rather than an ad for the center. U think is is still very effective.
Iraq has the potential if played properly to hurt the Democrats. Pick your soundbite, the Democrats are completely feckless and have stuck their foot in their mouth so many times all the GOP has to do is play their own comments back to them.
Also Obama is vulnerable to being painted as an ambition driven, inexperienced, self serving. His commitee appointment has basically been left to rot on the vine. He has been in the Senate for 3 years running for President for half of that time and has spent how much time overseeing his commitee that oversees our NATO relationships? The comparisson to McCain in that regard is stark indeed.
Theworldisnotenough on April 7, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Patreaus is just another manager of a government project that’s way over budget and way past its deadline.
We’ve heard his story a million times.
alphie on April 7, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Someone needs to ask the democrats outright why they think its such a good strategy to sell the iraqi people into death and slavery and give al qaeda a great victory over the US and a safe base to launch further attacks against the US.
If Al qaeda was a threat in Afganistan in 2001 how worse will they be in a safe iraq in 2010 ?
William Amos on April 7, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Interesting. So how do you support the Military? You obviously don’t support the Soldiers, which is what Petraeus is as well.
upinak on April 7, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Is Pelosi going direct to Syria for instructions or will they simply come by e-mail?
Hening on April 7, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Alphie is just a lefty troll of a anti-USA project that’s way over his head and way past his deadline to get a clue.
Hening on April 7, 2008 at 12:24 PM
I think he was being sarcastic. That is how the dems like to portrait the WOT.
William Amos on April 7, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Bull!
Do you feel the same way about Dwight D. Eisenhower and all the rest of our military commanders?
rplat on April 7, 2008 at 12:25 PM
In a perfect world.. I would love to see it go through basic training.
upinak on April 7, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Why have the hearings? We already know what the Democratic message to Petraeus is: “Lose at all costs, or we will fire you when we win!”
Dr. Charles G. Waugh on April 7, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Poor alphie is dreading the Petraeous report of progress as opposed to the Obama message of hope, change, immediate withdrawal and genocide in Iraq. So, he’s over here in denial over the whole thing. Better that money be sent to the UN under Obama’s trillion dollar bill to aid poverty in the universe.
a capella on April 7, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Yeah, I’m really a “lefty” because I don’t think Iraq is worth $200,000,000,000.00 a year of taxpayer money.
Every government worker thinks their little government project is “vital” to America.
It’s not.
Call it a win and pull the plug on this boondoggle.
alphie on April 7, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Sorry, can’t do it. Reid already called it a defeat, Pelosi did a lap dance for Assad and both refused to disown the General Betray Us ad. These people head the majority in both legislative branches of Congress. We can’t just call them liars or political whores by declaring victory, can we?
a capella on April 7, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Sorry, but several US Criminaml Codes, not to mention many military regulations, explicitly prohibit General Petraeus from acting as an “advocate” for what’s going on under his command.
As for the money we’re spending, would you rather have to go back in there and spend even more a few years down the line? Because that is exactly what will happen if we “pull the plug”.
Jed Babbin, a former Undersecretary of State, has an excellent piece today about how the Dems will treat Petraeus at Tuesday’s hearing. Sounds like you’re advocating the same tactic.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25875
Del Dolemonte on April 7, 2008 at 1:05 PM
Interesting article… but its all going to be dependent on the General’s opeing statement.
If he drops the bomb of Iranian involvment in the last Basra ops… with proof (weps, testimony, captured Qud’s force members…) it will change the whole dynamic.
And even better, if Sadr says he is going to stand down his “army” in the next 24 hours… which seems unlikely in that timeframe, but is probably going to happen?
And with Iraqi forces on the ground in Basra?
Lots of good things to report… if he brings them up.
Romeo13 on April 7, 2008 at 1:23 PM
“Pelosi did a lap dance for Assad”
I wouldn’t dignify what Pelosi did for Assad by calling it a “lap dance”, more like she gave him a Hummer and I’m not talking about the vehicle that replaced the Jeep.
NoDonkey on April 7, 2008 at 1:32 PM
What disgusted me was Pelosi dressing down someone with the background of the General. How repulsive, she has never lifter her finger in her life to defend our country, never has done anything but take, and she has the gall to say to an honored General with an impeccable record of service, don’t make this political.
Disgusting liberal nanny. I would love to see her actions under fire.
And there is a real quote from a real cool guy. This is why the internet is so important. People like alphie can be an idiot, and no one really knows who they are.
So lets take a look at alphies “manager”.
B.S from an academy, master degree, PHd, yeah just a manager…and alphie lives in the basement of his grandma’s house typing away on the internet. Your claim to fame, dissing an American hero and icon.
right2bright on April 7, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Don’t you mean your Lefty liberal boondoggle there alphie?
Do you understand Sanctions? Do you understand why Saddam ran? Do you understand, the U.S. did not put Saddam on trial (but I am sure we ALL at one time wish we could have)? Do you not understand freedoms and liberties for all people? Do you not understand what we are really facing?
alphie, will you continuously play the victim? Will you EVER support anything but your useless self exsistance?
Nice blog you got there… Victim!
upinak on April 7, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Wasn’t Sadr on the Letterman show with Obama and Hillary the other night?
Travis1 on April 7, 2008 at 7:54 PM
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