McClatchy: Congress to Petraeus: Show us a withdrawal plan

[babylonsister]

Congress to Petraeus: Show us a withdrawal plan
By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Wednesday, April 9, 2008


WASHINGTON — The Bush administration had hoped that the testimony of the top two U.S. officials in Baghdad would educate Congress about the situation in Iraq. But by the time Congress gaveled the hearings to a close Wednesday evening, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Army Gen. David Petraeus had gotten an earful about political conditions at home.

After five years of war, the American public is exhausted by pleas for more time and doesn't feel the war is worth the cost, congressional leaders told Crocker and Petraeus. As for their advice that the situation on the ground should dictate any troop withdrawals, Democrats and Republicans said the U.S. needs an exit strategy.

The testimony and questioning turned into a battle over whose timeline would prevail.

Crocker and Petraeus outlined a strategy that could take years to fulfill, saying that a "precipitous withdrawal" would undermine the security gains of the past year. Legislators in both parties, however, called for shifting the burden to Iraqi security forces and politicians in the months ahead.

Even Petraeus' designation of Iran as "the biggest threat" to stability in Iraq failed to move Congress.

"These folks have been fighting for centuries. What are we going to do in the next six months to settle this?" asked Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/33224.html

[KharmaTrain]

1. This Dog & Pony Show Hasn't Gone Well

Yesterday I was surprised to hear Dana Rohrbacher go after Petreus as much as any Democrat...and I heard a lot less kool-aid drinking the past couple days. The walls are starting to crack as Congresscritters are seeing their political careers in that foxhole with Petreus and they want out.

The Catch-22 is if you don't give this regime money, they'll take it...from dwindling domestic programs. Asshat will just "executive order" himself the money...the plunder must be ensured, protected and continued. So, do you give the money and try to protect the rest of the budget (and hope to get a concession or two) or take your chances with what this vindictive regime will do to get the money.

Last night I was floored when I scanned across Mrs. Dan Senor on CNN using the term "so-called surge" and then did a segment with Michael Ware that all but said that Crocker was a lightweight toadie and Petreus was buying the peace. This sure doesn't sound like the sales job is going well.

But the House & Senate will cave. Democrats still fear being labeled "weak on security, military and terror" and, many feel there's little they can do while this regime holds power.

The endgame here is an "Iraqi Standoff"...the situation is militarily and politically frozen until the US political picture is clear...

[Supersedeas]

2. finally, some indication that there were BIPARTISAN reservations about the "pause"