Via MAL Contends - Update: In sum, the word from (the P.R. President) Petraeus: No end in sight.
Petraeus did testify that military objectives are being met, progress is being made, ... but substancial troop force will not come down for years to come.
The Post paints Petraeus' testimony as follows:
The long-awaited testimony this afternoon of Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, once seen as a potential turning point in war policy, seemed more like an exercise of kicking the can down the road.
According to the New York Times, the long-anticipated Patraeus report will say that we need to wait again to decide whether we can begin massive redeployment of American forces, bringing the bulk of the troops home.
"The top American commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, has recommended that decisions on the contentious issue of reducing the main body of the American troops in Iraq be put off for six months, American officials said Sunday," reads the NYT piece written by Michael R. Gordon.
The White House-crafted Patraeus report comes as polls show most Americans, most Iraqis and the Democratic presidential contenders are calling for withdrawal.
See the The DC Establishment vs American Public Opinion by Glenn Greenwald for an extended discussion of the anti-democratic nature of Bush's failed efforts to convince the public of its latest, new-and-improved enterprise in Iraq.
Writes Greenwald:
The Washington Establishment has spent the last several months glorifying Gen. David Petraeus, imposing the consensus that The Surge is Succeeding, and most importantly of all, ensuring that President Bush will not be compelled to withdraw troops from Iraq for the remainder of his presidency. The P.R. campaign to persuade the country that the Surge is Succeeding has been as intense and potent as any P.R. campaign since the one that justified the invasion itself. While this campaign has worked wonders with our gullible media stars and Democratic Congressional leadership, it has failed completely with the American people.
Petraeus was never going to author an intellectually honest report anyway. He was the main act of the continuing deadly dog and pony show that Bush and Co put on in Iraq, casuing 1,000s more to die for the lie that is Iraq.
The PR managers just want to be able to say next year during the campaign some version that that it (Iraq) wasn't their fault, they are bringing the (some) troops home, the politicians blew it and Bush just listened to the Generals in the field.
A strong majority of the American population is not buying the latest act, polls show.
So, Petraeus will dishonor and despoil his career, betraying his own troops and the American public for a PR stunt that won't work anyway.
Bush has a way of doing that to men and women with honorable careers prior to their service under Bush; just ask US Atty Stephen Biskupic, and other number of administration personnel.
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