Democrats shift, now dismiss claims of Iraq progress; Emanuel: report wins Pulitzer for fiction

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Democrats question numbers propping Iraq progress
By Noam N. Levey, Times Staff Writer
September 7, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Launching a new assault on the president's war strategy, congressional Democrats have begun to dismiss the Bush administration claims of military progress as unreliable spin ahead of testimony Monday from the top U.S. commander in Iraq. In a shift from recent comments that the military "surge" seemed to be making some gains, Democrats are now questioning the statistics being used to back the reports of progress.

They also are casting Gen. David H. Petraeus' report as a product of the White House rather than an independent analysis by a military commander. "By carefully manipulating the statistics, the Bush-Petraeus report will try to persuade us that violence in Iraq is decreasing and thus the surge is working," said Illinois Sen. Richard J. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, in a speech Friday in Washington. "Even if the figures were right, the conclusion is wrong."...

***

Bush gave Democrats an opening to question the Petraeus report when he made a surprise visit to Iraq last weekend, said Paul Begala, a former advise r to President Clinton who has advised Senate Democratic leaders. He said Bush's trip, intended to highlight military accomplishments in al- Anbar p rovince, undermined the impression that Petraeus is an independent voice. "The White House did something very strategically foolish," he said. "He was their biggest asset."

As the week drew to a close, Petraeus' upcoming testimony had become the target of persistent attack as Democratic lawmakers branded it the "Bush report."

"Instead of a new strategy for Iraq, the Bush administration is cherry-picking the data to support their political objectives and preparing a report that will offer another defense of the president's strategy," said Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, the No. 3 Democrat in the House, in a floor speech Friday. "We don't need a report that wins the Nobel Prize for creative statistics or the Pulitzer for fiction."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-na-iraqdebate8sep08,0,6253978,full.story?coll=la-home-center

[OzarkDem]

1. Begala advising Senate Dems

Well that explains a helluva lot about why Dems in the Senate have been making so many mistakes.

Can't we put Begala and Carville out to pasture along with Donna Brazile and Bob Shrum. For crying out loud...

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. AWESOME! I guess that means they're going to stop the funding!

KEWL! When hell freezes over, I'm sure. I wonder what the Dems will do now?

After THIS report today, which I have yet to hear a report on on teevee, how could the WH and Petraeus say things are better "just look at Anbar Province?"


7 U.S. Troops Killed in 2 Iraq Attacks
By BUSHRA JUHI, Associated Press Writer

2 hours ago

BAGHDAD - Four U.S. Marines were killed in fighting in Anbar province, and three soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq, the military said Friday.

The four Marines assigned to Multi National Force _ West were killed Thursday in combat in Anbar, a predominantly Sunni province west of Baghdad that has seen a recent drop in violence, according to a statement.

Three Task Force Lightning soldiers also were killed Thursday when a bomb exploded near their vehicle in the northern Ninevah province, the military said separately.

The deaths raised to at least 3,760 members of the U.S. military who have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

Violence also persisted against Iraqis on the Islamic day of rest.

About 100 miles west of Anbar's capital city of Ramadi, insurgents blew up two suspension bridges on roads leading to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, a police intelligence officer said on condition of anonymity for security reasons.<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2...

[aquart]

3. The "Democrats shift" headline is yours not theirs.

But what an interesting way to characterize and distort the story. For what purpose, please?

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Sorry, but I think "shift" is the story from this article.

"In a shift from recent comments that the military 'surge' seemed to be making some gains, Democrats are now questioning the statistics being used to back the reports of progress." Since this is not LBN, the headline doesn't have to be the same as the article. I'm glad the Dems are making this shift, and I guess I assume I post here to a "friendly audience" and don't need to spin.

There was, as I remember, considerable discussion here when the Dems did, seemingly, decide to go along with the perception that there was military progress from the "surge." So I thought it was important to note that this, according to this article, has changed.

I understand your objection, however, and thanks for posting it.

[JayBob]

5. We will defeat the terrorist

It can be done but we need support from the Reps. If we can win we can take all the credit. I still think that it was a bad idea but hey we'll take the credit anyway. Am I right thinking this? Let me know.

[bigtree]

6. we must defeat the terrorists

in the White House