Reid labels military leader 'incompetent'

[Perky]

From Politico.com

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0607/4490.html

By: John Bresnahan
Jun 14, 2007 06:21 AM EST


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "incompetent" during an interview Tuesday with a group of liberal bloggers, a comment that was never reported.

Reid made similar disparaging remarks about Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said several sources familiar with the interview.

This is but the latest example of how Reid, under pressure from liberal activists to do more to stop the war, is going on the attack against President Bush and his military leaders in anticipation of a September showdown to end U.S. involvement in Iraq, according to Democratic senators and aides.

Not sure I believe the article and if true, I am not sure it is a good strategy. :shrug:

[dogday]

1. Dogday labels this administration 'incompetent'

Stupid is as stupid does....

[ProfessorGAC]

27. That's So 2001

I started saying that in March of 2001! What took you? Just kidding. Birds of a feather and all.
GAC

[dogday]

33. I have been saying it for a long time

Just thought I would post it again... and again and again....

Great minds think alike....

Hi Professor :hi:

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. In "reported" cases like this, we should be able to trust that

comments like this are fully in context. I don't know what the context is/was, but I'm betting there was more to it than what's shown here.

[bryant69]

3. Particularly given that it's from the Poltitico, a right wing source

Disguising itself as non partisan.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Perky]

I am not convinced yet that is the case

I understand the heritage, But they seem to cover the political spectrum pretty evenhandedly.


It is largely a collection of bloggers but they are onlty about six months old. I have not seen eny investigative stuff yet... That will be the telltale sign.

[Norquist Nemesis]

15. But are they evenhanded in their reporting or their use of reporters?

Having one reporter who puts out things with a bias against one side or the other, then another reporter who presents the opposite isn't necessarily evenhanded. It's ummm...balanced. I'll take un-biased and complete over balanced every time.

[blondeatlast]

34. There is no direct quote on the Politico site--and the CBS story

says Reid was talling about George Bush--on the record.

[Perky]

6. Dupe

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. Yes, it is. n/t

[Perky]

4. My problem with it is that blaming military leadership

also says that different leadership would make a difference.


That tends to perpetuate the war rather than create endergy for complete withdrawal

[Hangingon]

7. I worry about politicizing the military.

Yeah, I know about how political they can be, but we need career officers.

[Perky]

8. this is also true (eom)

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Couldn't agree more! Unfortunately, GWB catapulted it into a political tool

the day he ordered deployment to Iraq.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. But that's exactly why providing the context is important

After so many years of watching this, you're showing exactly what I'm talking about--immediate perception. It's sort of like ringing the bell in a courtroom. I have a hard time believing Reid made a stand alone statement like that. He's not that dumb! Bryant's correct--Politico has a viewpoint and it doesn't look toward the Left, but at the Left.

[tabasco]

23. Where does Reid say different military leadership would make a difference?

The Bush mafia has selected yes-men for the highest military positions. They are incompetent. Petraeus spouts nothing but propaganda. He is even worse than Westmoreland. Reid never said that different generals could win in Iraq. He said that Bush has promoted unqualified officers to top positions and that is true. Meanwhile, the Bush mafia has retired excellent generals like Shinseki. Bush has fucked up the military just as bad if not worse than the government.

[JHB]

29. It's not a given he was blaming the General

See posts below: Politico never quotes the whole statement, and if the CBS quote below is the one in question, Reid was calling Bush incompetent, not the general.

[Tom Joad]

5. Not just incompetent. Criminal. That is the word to define those who

military leaders who follow bush orders.

[Perky]

10. You are proposing a Coup de Tat as the alternative?

So far as I know there are no non-lawful orders being issued. And telling the CIC "HELL NO" is still a treasonous offense. Not saying we should be there. Just saying that Generals who refuse to follow lawful orders have to be removed from the chain of Command.

To allow them to disobey is the definition of insurrection .

:shrug:

[Tom Joad]

35. A war of aggression against a sovereign country is unlawful.

It is not merely a "mistake".

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. "Incompetent"? Bumbling, ass kissing buffoons, would be more apt.

[Perky]

14. So new militarary leadership would make thing in Iraq better?

That is a slippery slope.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Nothing the Americans can do, except get out, will make things in Iraq better.

The "war" is lost. To continue it for the sake of political CYA is not only pointless, it's criminal.

[Perky]

18. That is my problem with blaming military leaderhip

It creates the sense that we can tinker and fix and stay indefinitely.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. I'm blaming the whole miserable crew. Politicians and generals.

Harry Reid cut deals with the Republicans at the behest of the Blue Dogs to continue to fund the catastrophe. Petraeus, and the Pentagon went along with Bush in the obvious lie that more troops, more money, more time, will somehow bring about "victory", "stabilization", "security", or whatever new color of lipstick is put on the pig.

The Democrats don't want to be seen as "soft". The Republicans don't want to be seen as "losers". And, the Pentagon doesn't want to be seen as incapable by losing a lost war.

In the meantime, while the bigshots, posture and promise, the GI's are making the "ultimate sacrifice" by killing and being killed for nothing but the protection of reputations.

[TwilightGardener]

16. I hope this was taken out of context. If not, then it's not helpful--

blaming the commanders gets us nowhere as a party. Ordinary Americans will equate that with Dems not being supportive of the military, and the R's will jump on it.

[blondeatlast]

19. CBS story here--and the Politico story says Reid was talking to "liberal bloggers"

when he said that (no slant there, nosirree).

CBS is far more objective:

Reid also responded to comments the president made Tuesday when he said his successor in the White House would likely be responsible for deciding when U.S. troops leave Iraq.

"To me it shows how dangerously incompetent he is," Reid said. "'Stay the course, mission accomplished, bring 'em on,' the American people are sick of that. We need to change course in Iraq. ... I think the president burying his head in the sand is not going to do the trick."

[JHB]

26. Which refers to the president, not the general...

The politico article never actually quotes the alleged statement about Pace. If this is it, then the entire article is twisted off-base (big surprise).

(edited to correct the general in question)

[blondeatlast]

28. EExactly--and the source is "liberal bloggers." And yet--CNN uses the

Politico blurb.

It's absolutely rididculous--thirdhand quotes are legitimate news? Not in my book.

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. To get a look at Politico's following, check out the comments!

About the only difference between them and being at FR is that Politico's a little easier on the eyes.

http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=1&threadid=37926

Here's a real beauty!
"Reid has no credibility and I often wonder why the Democrats’ placed this dimwit in as their leader. He looks and acts like an undertaker. Saying this about our military leaders during a war is just astounding. How close can one come to TREASON?"

[blondeatlast]

22. I don't consider them at all credible (see post above) and I don't

think they are an acceptable source for DU--but damn if CNN doesn't source them with the same tidbit.

[Norquist Nemesis]

24. Not just CNN, MSNBC loves them too

They've become the new and improved Drudge Report with A-List Contacts.

[blondeatlast]

25. Ah, geez, I didn't know that.I vaguely remember the Press. Ordinary looking people

who often appeard tired on camera after following a story all day or more but gave it to me straight.

I mean, who could possibly watch that?

((sigh...))

[blondeatlast]

30. Google News search for Reid, Pace, incompetent and they all "source"

ONLY Politico.

I'm calling utter BS; check out the sites: http://news.google.com/news?um=1&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7GGLH&q=reid%20pace%20incompetent

[Ganja Ninja]

31. I think it's important to remember how these guys got the jobs ..

they hold now. They were promoted when other generals resigned or were fired for telling the truth instead of being yes men.

[blondeatlast]

32. Note the lack of a direct quote, DU: Politico's "story is BS. Reid called BUSH

dangerously incompetent ON THE RECORD--see post 30.

[Perky]

37. I just emailed the reporter

told him the headline and the lead were both incendiary and journalistically lazy when he does not source the bloggers or provide the actual quote.

See if he responds.

[radfringe]

36. call The WHAAAAAAAAAmbulance

republics should be out soon saying Reid should apologize, not supporting the troops... :sigh: you know the drill