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| Obama and Gen Petreaus "agreed to disagree." |
| 2008-07-23 |
| NBC's "Today" called Obama's visit to Iraq "picture-perfect." Obama also met with senior U.S. military commanders, including Gen. David Petraeus, who gave Obama a helicopter tour of Iraq and a briefing on the situation on the ground. Although their encounter was described as friendly, and photos show the two smiling and shaking hands, observers said Obama and Petreaus "agreed to disagree" about the feasibility of Obama's withdrawal timeline in an "animated" conversation. David Gergen: "I think it was the first -- Barack Obama made the first mistake of his trip, in my judgment, in releasing a statement in which he said exactly what Maliki had said in those conversations. We have a long tradition in this country that we only have one president at a time. He's the commander in chief and the negotiator in chief. I cannot remember a campaign which a rival seeking the presidency has been in a position negotiating a war that's under way with another party outside the country. I think he leaves himself open to the charge tonight that he's meddling, that this is not his role, that he can be the critic, but he's not the negotiator. We have a president who does that. So, I think the underlying facts support him, but I think it would be a real mistake -- and I think it was a mistake -- to get into these conversations and let it be used politically." |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #16 This may come to be seen as the start of the 2012 election. LOL NS yet damned troothy. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-07-23 19:38 |
| #15 Were he not black, they'd have rolled on his ass a long time ago for being a moron and a rube. That is the truth. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-23 19:12 |
| #14 EVERY damned time I read something about Obama I see him screwing up yet again. This character isn't smart enough to get elected dogcatcher, much less POTUS. If the press treated him fairly he'd be back "community organizing." If he gets elected, I predict that both taxes and the number of anti-black racists in America will rise exponentially. |
| Posted by: Jomock Platypus9662 2008-07-23 18:32 |
| #13 It almost certainly IS quiet enough in Iraq for Obamas 16 month withdrawl to work, with a residual force of 50k or so left. Problem is, that leaves everyone reliant on the Iraqi army, and gives Maliki a free hand against the Sunni awakening types and the Kurds. A secondary issue already raised is that the next president will also have to is continuing to assist Iraq's infrastructure and economic development; something that is also a factor in achieving "a truely pluralist democratic and prowestern Iraq". Obama's remarks don't give me the warm and fuzzies on that. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-07-23 17:09 |
| #12 This may come to be seen as the start of the 2012 election. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-07-23 16:03 |
| #11 I think Petreaus just agreed not to agree in public that Obama is a moron and a elitist snob. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-07-23 15:22 |
| #10 the problem It almost certainly IS quiet enough in Iraq for Obamas 16 month withdrawl to work, with a residual force of 50k or so left. Problem is, that leaves everyone reliant on the Iraqi army, and gives Maliki a free hand against the Sunni awakening types and the Kurds. Which makes it less likely we will get a truely pluralist democratic and prowestern Iraq, and more likely we get a Shiite quasidemocracy playing teh US and Iran against each other. Petraeus et al cant publicly say that, cause that would be undiplomatic to Maliki. Even Sunni pols cant say it, cause the whole Sunni world has been so hostile to the US position in Iraq so long (ironically in many cases cause they feared a shiite dominated Iraq) The Kurds want us to stay, but who will listen to them? Thats my top of the head analysis. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-07-23 15:16 |
| #9 We're hearing what the media outlets interpret Obama's visit to be instead of reporting the actual substance. This embellishment crap has to be nipped in the butt and these guys punished publicly. Why don't folks see this as the trash that it is?! I'm losing patience with our citizens that have joined the sheeple herd. I just discovered a new beer, Moose Drool, quite tasty, I think it's time. |
| Posted by: Jan 2008-07-23 14:45 |
| #8 Yeah, I edited it by mistake. Working in the wrong window. My brain ain't working too well today. It's back to the original. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-07-23 13:29 |
| #7 Did Pappy's previous comment get edited whist I was posting, or have I lost some additional marbles? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-07-23 13:18 |
| #6 I guess it can't be all of the above, eh, Pappy? Or could it? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-07-23 13:17 |
| #5 In other words, Hussein Messiah will pay no regard to the military whatever, as he already knows all he needs to know. Essentially. Obama can't say "Petraeus was successful" because that would imply that Bush's decision to put Petraeus in command was right. But most importantly, he'd be saying "My stance on the surge was wrong". I guess why he said what he said depends on whether his fact-finding trip and subsequent comment was: 1. a campaign stunt, 2. an information-gathering to establish or revise his policies and the comment was made to keep the supporters happy, 3. an expedition to figure out how the facts on the ground will conflict with his already established policies (rather, the policies his 300 experts have come up with) or, 4. it was just to take his ego on a tour. If it's from the first two, then his commentary, while flat-out wrong, is understandable in a political sort of way. If it's from the second two, that doesn't bode well with him as President. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-07-23 12:52 |
| #4 Heh, coming from the guy who does not understand the logistical nightmare of suddenly choosing Invesco Field as the venue of his presumed corronation. Maybe this guy has some trust issues. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-07-23 12:51 |
| #3 In other words, Hussein Messiah will pay no regard to the military whatever, as he already knows all he needs to know. If this f**ker is elevated to the top, which I really can't comprehend, the military is going to suffer even more than under Buffoon Bill. Neither have any knowledge of the military mission or how the nations of the world interact. This dimwit will do some damage and allow Pubs to regroup, but it's going to be be a hard grind. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2008-07-23 10:34 |
| #2 I think we should just make Barry president now, and skip that election stuff... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-23 10:32 |
| #1 In other words, Obama, with his 145 days of duty in the senate, illinois state legislator, and community organizer, believes he know more than the man who has made his career in the military, and who has writtne books on foreign policy. What arrogance! What an IDIOT! And the press continues to kiss his ass. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-07-23 10:26 |