CODEPINK Women Arrested @ Petraeus Hearing Sep 10th 2007

2008-10-23T15:29:40Z

This is video of Medea Benjamin, Liz Hourican, and Mona Hall being led out of the Cannon House office building after speaking out against the ongoing U.S. occupation of Iraq during the Petraeus/Crocker hearing in the House of Representatives.

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Awaiting Petraeus

2008-10-20T09:30:40Z

Apr 7 - Both the top military commander and chief US diplomat in Iraq deliver progress report to Congress. Analysts say Petraeus is likely to tell Congress the U.S. military needs time to evaluate security conditions throughout Iraq before committing further large troop reductions in 2008.

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Reality Vs. Petraeus

2008-12-04T09:11:52Z

In case you want know how those living in a land called reality feel about the report that General Petraeus *wrote, well below are just a few examples (and the vidoe contains many more).

So what say you, experts and insiders?

Richard Clarke, former Counter-terrorism guru to Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush: "David Petraeus' report is not David Petraeus' report. It is going to be written by the White House, it is going to be edited by the White House."
Secretary of Defense Embraced Troop Reduction proposals: "... Gates did not seem fully on board with the president's strategy, either. As a member of the congressionally chartered Iraq Study Group before his selection to head the Pentagon, Gates embraced proposals to scale back the U.S. presence in Iraq. [ Washington Post, 9/9/07]
Secretary of Defense Disagrees With Petraeus Calls Troop Drawdown "inevitable": "But he [Gates] . . told Army audiences privately that a troop decrease was inevitable."[ Washington Post, 9/9/07]
Joint Chiefs Worry Troops In Iraq Through 2008 Will Severely Strain the Military: "The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to advise President Bush to reduce the U.S. force in Iraq next year by almost half, potentially creating a rift with top White House officials and other military commanders over the course of the war. Administration and military officials say Marine Gen. Peter Pace is likely to convey concerns by the Joint Chiefs that keeping well in excess of 100,000 troops in Iraq through 2008 will severely strain the military. This assessment could collide with one being prepared by the U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Piraeus, calling for the U.S. to maintain higher troop levels for 2008 and beyond." [LAT, 8/24/07]

Ok, but how does the public feel?:

ABC poll: A Majority of Americans Expect Rosy Spin, Exaggeration from Petraeus: "53 per cent of Americans believe Gen Petraeus will try to portray the situation in Iraq as better than it really is. [Financial Times, September 9 2007]

USA today -Record 60% of Americans Call for Withdrawal as Petraeus Heads to Capitol - A record 60% of Americans say the United States should set a timetable to withdraw forces "and stick to that timetable regardless of what is going on in Iraq" according to a USA Today Gallup poll. [USA Today , 9/10/07]

Fine, but then the Iraqis must feel differently, right?:

ABC/BBC poll of Iraqis - 74% of Iraqis don't feel safe after the surge.

So, um, it seems nobody is falling for their act (except for Katie Couric, other elite media and a few dumb Blue Dog Democrats). It would be funny if innocent Americans weren't dying because General Petraeus seems more worried about his career and "President" Bush seems more worried about his legacy (or lack thereof) than the lives of ordinary Americans doing their patriotic duty.

*In the sense that words were written down by someone in the White House and Petraeus' name was signed below these words.

Watch the video

Petraeus report at Brave New Films

CODEPINK Women Arrested @ Petraeus Hearing Sep 10th 2007

Awaiting Petraeus

Reality Vs. Petraeus