Gen. Petraeus testimony today and the fallacies in reasoning

General Petraeus testified today that the cost to the war while expensive has been worth it. He also said he was not in agreement with Al-Maliki about the military actions against Al-Sadr's militia in Basra, as in his view the planning was not done adequately and that he was only informed a day before the actions were taken. The big question for me for the day is why is it that that Al-Sadr's Militia doesn't need similar training that other people in Iraq seem to need? Can anyone explain that? Is it because Iran is doing their training? If so, can't we outsource this job to Iran? I jest. :) But see my point. The arguments don't make sense by our Generals and political figures.

Ambassador Crocker thought that we had a strategic interest in being there (for the long haul). He said their was going to be a Status of Forces agreement between Iraq and the U.S. signed by President Bush in a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

There is a reasoning by both Petraeus and Crocker that suggests we can't and shouldn't leave Iraq as chaos would ensue and the gains made would be reversible. That is the same kind of argument that went on with ending the Vietnam war. In that war many suggested that the entire area of Asia would fall under Communist rule if and when we left. It didn't! Today Vietnam is a trading partner and it took less than 25 years to do it. Looking forward, I don't see Iraq being any different, UNLESS WE STAY! As the demonstrator said at the hearings, "Bring them home! Bring them home!"

Boycott the President's speech on Thursday night

The major networks did not carry the Petraeus and Crocker testimony in the House of Representatives on Monday or the Senate testimony yesterday. Only after watching it on C-Span could you get a true picture of the lack of real progress made in Iraq and the pathetic lack of strategic thinking General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker manifested. They appealed again to our fears and portrayed a picture for us of Iraq "falling apart" if we leave. Petraeus was a good soldier and kept his comments entirely within the scope of Iraq without commenting on some broader issues like whether the Army was broken, whether we were safer in America or not (a question pressed by Senator John Warner R-VA)

A message needs to be sent to President Bush loud and clear. That message: We're not listening to you anymore! Boycott his Prime-Time speech to the Nation on Thursday night and punish the major Networks for carrying it, rather than the testimony before Congress and the Senate they chose to ignore. Also, the President’s speech will be nothing but B.S. I would rather watch the PBR Bull Riding show for real entertainment, without the stench!

Gen. Pace to leave Joint Chiefs. Coincidence?

Good timing for General Peter Pace to be leaving the Joint Chiefs of Staff, effective September. Coincidence? I think not. He leaves the prognosis as to whether the "Surge" is working or not exclusively with General David Petraeus. Quite honestly, I'm glad he's gone as he was a part of the problem with the Pentagon and the decisions and cover-up on this war. My esteem for Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, has risen once again. Boy are we lucky we have this guy instead of Rumsfeld.