Gen. David Petraeus deserves an apology - from my local paper

[proud2BlibKansan]

There’s room for reasonable people to disagree over Gen. David Petraeus’ take on Iraq. But Moveon.org’s personal attacks on him go way over the top.

In an ad Monday in The New York Times, the anti-war group presented the headline: “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” The ad can be seen at the group’s Web site, which this week echoed that sleazy theme.

MoveOn.org disputes Petraeus’ factual claims, and the Web site presents considerable documentation. Its assertions have in turn been challenged, and perhaps a healthy debate will ensue.

But all that is overshadowed by MoveOn.org’s inflammatory use of the word “betray,” impugning not just the general’s accuracy but his patriotism. That would be outrageous if it weren’t so patently ridiculous.

It should also be noted that President Bush has deliberately sought political cover behind Petraeus. The president has led the public to believe that Petraeus rather than Bush himself will determine the pace of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

MoveOn.org owes Petraeus an apology. And while military leaders are inevitably drawn into some political disputes, everyone in Washington should remember that this usually is not a happy development.

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=comment/reply/6557#comment_form

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. I totally disagree. And he did cook the books. nt

[tularetom]

2. I knew nothing of the ad until I read about it here on DU

and when I saw it and read how much it was pissing off the lunatic fringe I sent 50 bucks to moveon.org.

I think your local paper owes an apology to every American who has half a brain for trying to defend this cheap PR ploy.

[GeorgeGist]

3. Let Petreaus sue ...

for libel if he believes that patent ridicule is unjustified. Frankly, from what I've heard he deserves far worse.

[L0oniX]

4. I like how he couldn't tell us that we are more safe for all their efforts.

Truth is that we are not more safe because of the surge or any other thing they have done in Iraq. They have only made us more unsafe! What a stupid motha f*ckin Bush patsy. I guess his troops will really like risking their lives knowing that their leader doesn't think we are safer. He is a betrayer. How much $$$ does he make a year to over see his stupid pawns of foreign policy?

"Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy." -- Henry Kissinger


:grr:

[cali]

5. Hear that sucking sound?

That's the sound of the MoveOn Ad sucking everything out of the debate.

[Toots]

19. Seems to me like it really revved up the debate, not dampened it

Anything that makes the right wingers squeel like this has to be a good thing..Besides it is factual. He by distorting the facts is keeping US Troops in harms way intentionally with forethought only to satisfy the Bush* Administration instead of the Nation as a whole. He is indeed betraying the trust of the nation as a whole.

[Bitwit1234]

6. If you are not a true democrat why are you posting here...Petraeus is a liar

and the stuff he is telling is betraying this country, especially the troops. He should be ashamed. bush will never be, but Petraeus is of the military and his troops should come first. Shame. shame. shame.

[zbird]

9. Unless I misunderstood, the OP is NOT the author of this little ditty.

It seems to be a piece from their local rag.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. It is from a newspaper - did you not read that?

Sheesh

[lonestarnot]

7. WiTF are you talking about! an appology, my ass!

You for cooking books, cheat'n in elections, doing a 9/11 too? PTBL, you just put me in shock!

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. I didn't write this

[MrMickeysMom]

8. The puke at the end of your OP is characteristic of those racked by fear-

...fear that someone's going to think that we're calling someone a liar.

Petraeus is lying to us.

...fear that we're going to be seen as "rude" to a general

A general who would make Eisenhower roll over in his grave.

... fear that Democrats are pushing the envelope of taking a stand after 6 years of this mess

WE ARE MAD AS HELL AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. Take an Alka Seltzer and stand for something.

Snap out of it... Someone has to lead while others sit in the corner and holdin their knees together.

[nosmokes]

10. Betrayus is a tool. If anyone owes an apology The general owes a big one to

the troops he's in charge of. You'll note I didn't say lead.You wanna suck up to him and kiss his brass go ahead. Me, I'll stick w/ Rev Yearwood and the protestors and MoveOn until we get some truth.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I agree completely

Well said! I 'borrowed' your comments to respond to this crap. Thank you.

[nosmokes]

22. You're welcome m'friend. Here's to hoping

they strike a chord w/ someone and do a bit o goodness.

[sendero]

12. The only mistake bigger...

.... than ruining your point with a stupid pun would be to apologize for it.

It can't be undone, let it ride.

[Skidmore]

13. Petraeus had a choice. If he agrees with this policy and the way

the troops he is in charge of are being used, then his testimony was morally consistent. If he does not agree with this debacle, then he has failed ethically and morally to do the right thing--resign his post. He is no more owed an apology than are Frank & Pace & & Powell & Rummy & any other person who has participated willingly in the systematic murder of a nation.

[Richardo]

16. Hm. I said much the same thing yesterday, but I disagree on the apology.

What's done is done. An apology would only refocus the public on the original gaffe.

In general, the 'public apology' trend is way overdone and has rendered most apologies meaningless anyway.

[NNN0LHI]

17. I would sooner blow my brains out than apologize to a war criminal

Who we going to apologize to next? Idi Amin? Feck that.

Don

[The Vinyl Ripper]

18. I just posted this there..

This is not the first time that General Petraeus has been known as General Betrayus.

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2007_01_07_balkin_archive.html

""Incidentally, I offer the following sidenote about General Petraeus, by almost all accounts an enormously accomplished man: A student of mine at the UT Law School, who had had combat experience in both Afghanistan and Iraq, referred to him as "General Betrayus" because of what was thought to be his inordinate interest in good publicity (and presumed self-promotion) rather than concern for his troops. I have no idea whether this is fair, but I do know that this is what my sober and thoughtful student told me.""

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. Thank you!!

[cgrindley]

20. WTF! why should anyone apologize for anything to this robot sheep?

he's a fucking general... that's a dishonorable job title in this administration and if he had any balls, he'd resign his post. Why are people sticking up for this asshole?

[Evergreen Emerald]

21. Wow! I am surprised!

At every turn this "general" has shilled for the administration. The "truth" he spews is nothing but right-wing talking points. His lies to the American people have betrayed the troops--and America.

He deserves no respect--he lost it when he lied.

The focus on MoveOn is also a diversion attempt by the neo-cons. I am still amazed that some of us buy into the propaganda and regurgitate it as if it is truth. I guess it demonstrates how powerful propaganda is. Even a proud liberal succumbs to its power.