Senator Harry Reid vs. General David Petraeus

 

The Democratic leader noted that ...the surge has not been successful in allowing Iraqis to reach national reconciliation. However, Reid acknowledged that the surge might be responsible for reducing the violence in the war-torn country. He was careful not to give the strategy too much credit and instead blasted Republicans for being “committed to an open-ended war in Iraq.” “They’re boasting now about, if things work out well by next summer — that is, the summer of 2008 — the war will be six and half years in endurance [sic] at that time, they’re talking about maybe we can start drawing down troops... "The surge hasn't accomplished its goals," Reid said. "... We're involved, still, in an intractable civil war." Reid's comments show that Democratic leaders in Washington may not be on the same page as their rank-and-file members when it comes to interpreting results on the ground in Iraq. Reid, as a leader, still needs to maintain some negotiating leverage as Democrats try to figure out a way to give President Bush some $50 billion in temporary war finding while at least attaching some strings to the money so it's not a blank check for the war...

Q: What was the key? I remember your very contentious report in front of Congress. There was very great skepticism about the surge. Too little, too late was the predominant criticism. What do you think was the tipping point? GEN PETRAEUS: There have been a number of factors... The popular rejection of Al-Qaeda in Anbar was a catalyst. It gave other Iraqis an example of the fact that they could also reject this extremist form of Islam that is not Iraqi in all the violence... There is a momentum and the momemtum starts to have a positive effect. Q: Your commanders though are suggesting that if they have not already won, they are winning the battle of Baghdad. GEN PETRAEUS: There is no question that there has been impressive and enormous progress made in Baghdad by levels in attack, by civilian deaths, by coalition Iraqi security force casualties, you name it. There has been improvement... I would not have recommended what I did in September, if I would not have projected what we are now seeing in Iraq... ...This is a team effort. This is the new greatest generation of American soldier, sailor, air force, marines, coast guard and we have civilians that are out here in huge numbers as well... Our country should be very proud on the way our services have changed during the course of this."

Our country -- excluding the Copperhead Democrats -- that is.

I wonder which the average American trusts more: Harry Reid or General David Petraeus?

And suffice it to say that Reid and the Copperhead Democrats have left quite an impression on the U.S. military. That should work out well for them in 2008.

Sources: Gateway Pundit, Politico and The Hill