An exchange between Senator Joe Lieberman and General Petraeus.
By paulseale Posted in Spotlight Blogs | War — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
For those of you who do not know who General Petraeus is, Bush has selected him to the be the commander of the multinational forces in Iraq. You can read more about the confirmation hearing straight from CentCom.
I would like to highlight an important exchange between Joe Lieberman and General Petraeus. I believe it is very illuminating regarding the situation in Iraq.
Read on . . .
SEN. LIEBERMAN: And you have also said that you understand and appreciate the disappointment of the American people and their representatives here in Congress about the lack of progress in the war in Iraq today.
GEN. PETRAEUS: That is correct, sir.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: You have also said that you fear that there would be disastrous consequences for Iraq, for the region, for the world economy, for the United States in the war on terrorism if we exit Iraq prematurely.
GEN. PETRAEUS: Correct, sir.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: And you have said that you believe this new way ahead for Iraq that has been presented, with military, economic and political components, is in fact a new and different strategy for Iraq than what has been tried thus far. Is that correct?
GEN. PETRAEUS: I believe it is, yes, sir. There are cases in Iraq where this has actually been conducted in the past. Fallujah, which remains to this day since it was liberated and has become one of the better gated communities in that region, is an example of that; Tall Afar is another example, although again, we have to continue to watch the hold and build piece of that.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: And based on those examples that you've cited and your own expertise in counterinsurgency, am I correct to conclude that you believe that this new way ahead, this new plan for Iraq can in fact work?
GEN. PETRAEUS: That is correct, sir.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: And when I say "work," I mean diminish the violence being carried out by the enemies of stability and progress in Iraq so that the Iraqis can achieve a political and economic solution themselves. Is that correct?
GEN. PETRAEUS: That's correct, Senator.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: You also said in response to a question from Senator McCain that adoption of a resolution of disapproval, which is contemplated by our colleagues and probably will be on the Senate floor -- disapproval of the new way ahead in Iraq -- would not, if I remember your words, have a beneficial effect on our troops in Iraq. But I want to ask you, what effect would Senate passage of a resolution of disapproval of this new way ahead that you embrace -- what effect would it have on our enemies in Iraq?
GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, as I stated in the opening statement, this is a test of wills, at the end of the day. And in that regard, speaking purely as a military commander, if confirmed -- albeit one who, frankly, does understand enormously and treasures the value of free and open debate, free speech, who has put himself in harm's way to protect those great features of our democracy -- nonetheless, having said that, a commander in such an endeavor would obviously like the enemy to feel that there's no hope.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: And a resolution -- a Senate-passed resolution of disapproval for this new strategy in Iraq would give the enemy some encouragement, some feeling that -- well, some clear expression that the American people were divided.
GEN. PETRAEUS: That's correct, sir.
SEN. LIEBERMAN: Based on the answers that you've given and on your extraordinary record of service to our country and your expertise in counterinsurgency, that you've literally written the book; and your belief that this new way ahead is in fact different from what we're trying right now, with the exception of the few cities that you've cited where it worked; and your testimony that passage of resolutions of disapproval would not have a beneficial effect on our troops and on the enemy, I want to make a plea to my colleagues in the Senate. I understand that the trains are on the legislative track and they're heading toward a collision, but I want to urge my colleagues to consider your testimony this morning and to put the brakes on. You will, in my opinion, receive unanimous or near-unanimous support -- and you should, you deserve it -- from this committee and from the Senate. But I fear that a resolution of disapproval will send you over there with us saying you're a good and great general but we don't agree with what you believe we need to do in Iraq. And so I want to appeal to my colleagues to consider, with regard to the resolutions of disapproval or the caps on troops or the cut-off of funds, to step back for a moment and give you a chance, and the 160,000 American soldiers you will be commanding a chance, perhaps a last chance, to succeed in Iraq. If, God forbid, you are unable to succeed, then there will be plenty of time for the resolutions of disapproval or the other alternatives that have been contemplated. General Petraeus, I think you are being sent into one of the most challenging and important circumstances that a general in our history has been sent into. I was thinking maybe comparable is when President Truman sent General Matthew Ridgway to Korea to replace General MacArthur when things were bleak. And General Ridgway succeeded. I pray that you will succeed similarly in Iraq. I believe you can and will succeed similarly in Iraq. I appeal to my colleagues today to give you this chance, again, perhaps the last chance to succeed and avoid the disaster that failure will bring. All of my colleagues here -- and we have different opinions on this question -- no one is embracing failure; no one is suggesting defeat. We have different ways that we believe we can do better. I believe you deserve the opportunity, as the general we're going to send over to lead our effort, to carry out this way that you believe can and will succeed.
he'll need it in that pit of vipers.
No fear of God in them. No recognition that America must stand strong in this Biblical region of the world.
Lieberman understands the true, ancient history of this region. Such an exception among Democrats.
Damn the torpedoes!
and it was even more impressive on the screen. Even with Joe Lieberman's very low key speaking voice, the impact was just electric.
See it if you can.
Gen Petraeus' nomination to be commander of coalition forces in Iraq was sent to the full Senate today with unanimous approval from the Armed Services Committee.
If the Dems are smart, they will approve it with a voice vote tomorrow and Petraeus can get on the ground in Baghdad.
But, as we know, the Dems are not smart, and it's entirely possible they may want a roll-call vote. If so I say: Bring it!
I'm confident that only a few of the most nutty (Hagel, Feingold et al) will oppose Gen petraeus.
I was able to hear a lot of the hearing referenced above on Tuesday, and I recommend Gen Petraeus' opening statement to anyone who wants to know what the mission in Iraq is and what kind of man we are sending to carry it out. Wow, what an impressive human being!
In the post above, Sen Lieberman (who was simply outstanding) asked the Gen if the various resolutions would have an effect on our troops (great question)! The general said yes. Later Sen John Warner (RINO-Va) fumfered about his idiotic resolution (against the surge -- just not as much as Dems). He began to sidle away from his opposition -- saying that his resolution wasn't going to be voted, it was just filed, or tabled, or something, and he was sending it over to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to be included in their resolution (Biden-Hagel).
Way to pass the buck, Senator!
Other highlights/lowlights:
Teddy K was like a schoolgirl in the presence of a true hero, saying up front he intended to vote for Petraeus and mentioning he had read Petraeus' book on counterinsurgency (I almost expected him to ask for an autograph) and asking demurely..would 20,500 be enough?
Petraeus said it would.
Carl levin was less obnoxious than usual.
Only one Senator -- one of the Nelsons, Bob or bill or ben or whatever -- went into BushLied, WMDs, etc. Most of the questions were thoughtful and actually (gasp) intelligent.
Sen McCain and Sen Sessions were excellent. People I thought were weak links - Thune, Martinez -- were good too.
President Hillary Clinton started off all right -- with her usual mastery of cliche ("You wrote the book, General...but the Bush Administration isn't on the same page!") but soon went into a strange rant about Bosnia....people laughed about Bosnia in 2002, 2003...but we knew how to win there..Hillary was in the White House then (OK Bill was President technically...but she was right there) they talked to the bad guys, etc. Very weird.
Webb came in briefly, apologized..he was in other meetings (translation: I was working on my SOTU response...losers) He was like the kid who gets to skip class to work on his valedictorian speech. Beyond some Alpha-male jousting with Petraeus (Counterinsurgency? I saw it in Vietnam...I was a journalist in Lebanon..I saw it in Ireland) he didn't have much to say. Saving it for the speech.
Claire McCaskill wasn't quite the Boxer of this committee -- she didn't ask Gen Petraeus if he had kids & was therefore qualified to lead our troops) but she came close. What a maroon.
This has been an excellent week. I see the Senate backing off from their idiotic resolutions. I now don't even think Biden-Hagel will pass. Following the President's decision on his plan, Gen Petraeus's hearing and the President's fine speech last night, we are well positioned to pursue our goal, which is victory in Iraq!
man who isn't going to play politics with our national security.
He's one of those rare "rational liberals" we were talking about a while back.
Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.
really showed the stark differences between the responsible adults in the Us that recognize the reality of the enemy we face, how enemies are emboldened or defeated and are about the business of convincing them that we, the adults will never give up, as we converse with the children in America that play adults in DC and in our neighborhoods and homes that are in denial about the enemy and the unity required to get them to quit or those too enamored of their own visage or voice to notice an enemy.
Bush is daddy. The dems and too many repubs are the children pitching a fit that the war isn't over. They are a dangerous pack of kids beacuse they can vote. They are a threat to our freedom.
They don't get it or they are stupid, ignorant or don't care.
God help us from them, especially those like Webb that know but don't care. Wicked people, most of the elected dems, esp in the senate. Pure wickedness of ego. Willing that America lose a war so they can gain power.
they think
wait till 08
Mike Gamecock DeVine @
The Charlotte Observer
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson