Petraeus LIED to the Congress! Straight-up LIED!!! (what will the Dems do?)

[Roland99]

Gen. Petraeus: "We have never given weapons to tribals," he said. "What we have done is applaud when they ask if they can point their guns at al-Qaeda."

Oh, really??


June 2007

U.S. arming Sunnis in Iraq to battle old Qaeda allies
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/11/africa/11iraq.php

BAGHDAD: With the four-month-old increase in American troops showing only modest success in curbing insurgent attacks, American commanders are turning to another strategy that they acknowledge is fraught with risk: arming Sunni Arab groups that have promised to fight militants linked with Al Qaeda who have been their allies in the past.

American commanders say they have successfully tested the strategy in Anbar Province west of Baghdad and have held talks with Sunni groups in at least four areas of central and north-central Iraq where the insurgency has been strong. In some cases, the American commanders say, the Sunni groups are suspected of involvement in past attacks on American troops or of links to such groups. Some of these groups, they say, have been provided, usually through Iraqi military units allied with the Americans, with arms, ammunition, cash, fuel and supplies.

American officers who have engaged in what they call outreach to the Sunni groups say many of them have had past links to Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia but grew disillusioned with the Islamic militants' extremist tactics, particularly suicide bombings that have killed thousands of Iraqi civilians. In exchange for American backing, these officials say, the Sunni groups have agreed to fight Al Qaeda and halt attacks on American units. Commanders who have undertaken these negotiations say that in some cases, Sunni groups have agreed to alert American troops to the location of roadside bombs and other lethal boobytraps.

...

American field commanders met this month in Baghdad with General David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, to discuss the conditions Sunni groups would have to meet to win American assistance. Senior officers who attended the meeting said that Petraeus and the operational commander who is the second-ranking American officer here, Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, gave cautious approval to field commanders to negotiate with Sunni groups in their areas.

Similar article:

US arms Sunni dissidents in risky bid to contain al-Qaida fighters in Iraq
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2100698,00.html


Petraeus stating plans were afoot and that Maliki supported one in Anbar:

Gen. Petraeus concerned about US arming insurgents
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Gen._Petraeus_concerned_about_U.S._arming_0617.html

The Iraqi government has strongly objected to to the US strategy of arming Sunni insurgents. In a Newsweek interview published Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blasted that strategy, saying that it "will create new militias."

"I believe that the Coalition forces do not know the backgrounds of the tribes. It is a job of the government," to arm Iraqis, said Maliki.

Petraeus indicated that the Iraqi government was behind the plan, however, saying that the US has had "good discussions" with the parliament in Iraq, and implying that Maliki was behind a similar plan in Anbar province.

Will the real Gen. Petraeus please rise???

[doublethink]

1. I have a question for you ......

and I apologize before-hand because I didn't read your post ...... just the Title "Petraeus LIED to the Congress! Straight-up LIED!!! (what will the Dems do?)

My question is this .... WHAT WILL THE REPUBLICANS DO? I lately feel like I'm living in an alternate universe where Republicans don't exist, or are somehow non-compliant with what the criminal Bush Administration is doing. In simple terms .... are the REPUBLICANS in the house/senate NOT AT FAULT in any of this? ..... so yea the Democratic Party controls the Senate barely and House ... but not enough in my estimation to CONTROL THIS MADNESS .... and this madness lies with the freaking ENABLING REPUBLICANS .. who refuse to abandon their CORPORATE MASTERS and the Almighty $$$$$$$$$$$$. Sorry to be so blunt. And sorry to take this out on your thread ..... carry on. Peace.

[Roland99]

3. I've given up hope on any Repuke coming about. Hagel made some token moves but in the end...

he's getting the fuck outta Dodge.

[Generator]

7. Ah ha the Republicans are the good soldiers

who follow orders and never question. So just like Petraeus. And just like those here that think it's Code Pink's fault or Move On's fault that Democrats can't do their Job. They have bought the propaganda-propaganda rule number one-must have RESPECT for the military..this country is never going to change until it tells the truth about what our military is being used for-nothing but greed.

The lie about this, about billions missing about, everything. This country has been sold down the river and I'm supposed to fucking worry about what clothes code pink people wear or what un p.c. fucking words some group uses? I swear to Christ half the people on DU have bought the koolaid. (propaganda!)

Try watching that Documentary Alive Day and then get back to me about the P.C. Bullshit!!!!!! The only reason I can hack this place is for the half (and many damn smart and funny ones at that) that haven't drank the koolaid.

He's asking what the Dems will do because we know the Republicans have no conscience. The jury is still out (just barely) on the Dems.

[tridim]

14. Thank you for pointing that out

It's been bothering me for awhile now.

The Dems aren't perfect, but we're still the good guys/gals.

[Roland99]

15. Well, some of us are.

Then we have the DLC-dandies. The Repukes in Dem clothing.

[doublethink]

16. Check this link out in case you missed it tonight ...... the O.P.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3516100 Peace. :thumbsup: :hi:

[Roland99]

24. If only we could get the liberal media to report on that statement.

[EFerrari]

25. Amy Goodman did a segment on it Weds morning. n/t

[Roland99]

26. Democracy Now! ROCKS! But, we need ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, etc.

and the major papers.

[EFerrari]

27. Since most of them are owned by the military industrial complex

I don't think it's going to happen.

[Roland99]

28. So instead we're left with a Limbaught mentality permeating the airwaves

Petraeus is a HERO!!

IraqMe Dave Petraeus

[EFerrari]

33. It's a challenge get anything out using only Indy media, the few

talk shows, and the net. But that's what we got right now.

[loudsue]

32. Perfect point to make here! THANK YOU!

It is VERY important for all of us to put pressure on the republicans from our own states to let them know we hold THEM responsible for this mess, and make sure they have to hold it for getting us into this, and for following their party line without dissent.

THEN we need to keep e-mailing the republican media, and letting THEM know that we hold the republicans responsible for the mess the country is in, and make sure they report that there are a helluva lot of us out here that feel that way.

:kick:

[Hydra]

34. Ever hear of the irresistable force meeting the unmovable object?

The Repubs are the unmovable object. Despite some moves by some fringe pubs earlier(which I suspect was a ruse, in retrospect), they are remarkably solid behind Bush's plans despite his poll numbers.

Given that they won't bend, we have to look at the dems that aren't voting as per the party they supposedly belong to and put pressure on them. We also have to look at options that don't require votes and a presidential signature.

I'm not very optimistic, however- every time Bush demands something huge and damaging to us, he gets it, despite our majorities...why would that be, do you think?

[doublethink]

2. Okay I went back and read the Post .....

and besides the (what will the dems do) it's a great post ;) ..... K&R. Peace.

[Totally Committed]

4. I understand they never swore him in, so he just lied in front of cameras.

They can't do anything to him if he wasn't sworn in. No wonder Ray McGovern was dragged out of the chamber when he insisted on their being sworn in.

The Democrats are colluding with and abetting this Republican bullsh*t.

TC

[POAS]

5. Under oath or not

I believe it is still unlawful to give false or misleading testimony to congress.

[Roland99]

6. Exactamundo!

[robinlynne]

8. But they should have sworn him in. You'd think they would get it by now.

[TahitiNut]

9. The UCMJ is not tolerant of "false reports" as I recall.

Maximum punishment. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 5 years.

From my time in the military, I recall that there was a BIG emphasis on the punishment for making a false report. That included verbal as well as written roports. For example, "all present or accounted for" is a common report which, if false, could earn the individual in charge making such a report a harsh punishment.

I don't recall much of a sense of humor with regards to this, since so much of military operations depends on truthful and complete reports.

[xchrom]

10. recommend

[Disturbed]

12. So much for Petraeus being an honorable man.

He, like Powell are not honorable & they have disgraced the position.

I suspect that every one in that Hearing knew damn well that Petraeus lied to them. What will they do about it? Nothing!

[Roland99]

13. He blew that at least in 2003 with his mobile weapons lab claim.

[Nimrod2005]

11. k

[Quixote1818]

17. This is important. It give Dems an opening to attack his character and credibility.

K & R

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. But he would NEVER betray us!!

:sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

18. K&R. "But, he was an honorable man." n/t

[alittlelark]

19. OK, I'm sending this to Lofgren and Boxer.....

Who else???

[EFerrari]

21. I may write up a thingy and send that to Nancy and Harry.

Once a liar, always a liar. Who could have ever imagined the good general would LIE to us AGAIN? This is why my Code Pink sistahs were so frustrated when Nancy's office told us to wait for the report. We knew. Hell, we could have written it ourselves and saved everyone time and LIVES.

:grr:

[EFerrari]

22. kick

[Ghost in the Machine]

23. Damn proud to kick and recommend this post. Great find, Roland99!

I'll help pass it along, too.

General David Betrayus, we *have* your number! Roland99 just *pwned* your ass!

[endarkenment]

29. We will argue over the propriety of calling the asshole a liar.

"will" is a misnomer, this is already what we are doing. How dare some of us call the lying general Petraeus a liar? The fact that he manifestly lied appears to be irrelevant.

[Roland99]

31. Just like there should be no apologies from or for MoveOn.

[spanone]

30. his entire report was part of the bu$h* fantasy for america

rape the coffers and pass the bad shit on to the next administration