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Defense Official Contradicts Murtha Claim that Petraeus Didn't 'Talk to Any of Us'
CNS News ^ | May 3, 2007 | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 05/03/2007 8:52:35 AM PDT by Kaslin

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) this week criticized Gen. David Petraeus for not meeting with members of Congress during a recent visit to Washington, D.C., to report on the status of operations in Iraq, but not only did the commander of Multinational Force - Iraq meet with hundreds of lawmakers, he personally briefed Murtha himself.

Murtha told MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Tuesday, "They bring Petraeus back - purely political move. Petraeus comes back here. He doesn't talk to any of us. He only talks to the news media and so forth trying to sell this program."

But a senior Defense Department official told Cybercast News Service that Petraeus personally briefed Murtha and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in an April 24 phone conference that lasted 20-30 minutes.

The following day, Petraeus conducted two 90-minute, top-secret level operations intelligence briefings for representatives and senators.

The first, to which all members of the House of Representatives had been invited, was attended by 250 congressmen, and the second was attended by 86 senators. After brief opening statements at the two briefings, Petraeus spent the remaining time answering questions from the congressmen in attendance.

"These were two of the most widely attended operations intelligence briefings in recent memory," the Pentagon official said.

The official also disputed Murtha's claim that Petraeus' briefings were a "purely political move."

"Members of the military are inherently non-political. Moreover, General Petraeus was unanimously confirmed by this Senate. He is their man, reporting to them on operations in Iraq. There is nothing political about that," the official said.

Attempts to obtain reaction from Murtha's office Wednesday evening were unsuccessful.

Roll Call reported on April 18 that Pelosi had initially declined the Pentagon's request to arrange a meeting for Petraeus with members of the House.

"According to an administration official, Pelosi and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) initially declined recent requests from the Defense Department to schedule a briefing ... panel aides said they were 'too busy' to schedule a meeting next week, the administration official said. A second attempt to set up a briefing with the Speaker's office was likewise declined," the newspaper reported.

House Minority Leader John Boehner [R-Ohio] criticized Pelosi's reluctance to meet in person with Petraeus.

The Washington Times on April 26 quoted Boehner as saying that Pelosi had met with President Bashar Assad of Syria - designated a state sponsor of terror by the State Department - but that she "somehow can't find the time to meet with the American general in charge of our troops fighting the global war on terror."


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; US: District of Columbia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: democrat; demoncrat; demonrat; iraq; liar; murtha; pennsylvania; petraeus; senate; senator; traitor; wot
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To: Wild Irish Rogue

I don’t understand why the voters of Pennsylvania keep voting that lunatic in


61 posted on 05/03/2007 10:55:57 AM PDT by Kaslin (Fred Thompson for President 2008)
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To: bikerMD

This despicable senile old boot craps in his pants and drools in his oatmeal.

Actually he drools in his (or others) pants and craps in his oatmeal.


62 posted on 05/03/2007 11:01:39 AM PDT by hdstmf
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To: Kaslin
With the idea that we get what we deserve in mind, the voters who put Murtha in office and keep him there must be the dumbest bass turds in the country.

Regards.

63 posted on 05/03/2007 11:06:20 AM PDT by ARE SOLE (Agents Ramos and Campean are in prison at this very moment.)
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To: jveritas

The democrats are the party of liars and deceivers


64 posted on 05/03/2007 11:07:26 AM PDT by Kaslin (Fred Thompson for President 2008)
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To: Just A Nobody
YES it was! What a great turn out they had.

150 in Washington, DC
25 in Richmond, VA
100 or so in Boston, MA
Including women, children, blankets, coolers and buckets!


65 posted on 05/03/2007 11:21:36 AM PDT by Kaslin (Fred Thompson for President 2008)
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To: Just A Nobody

Thanks! I am inspired today.


66 posted on 05/03/2007 11:22:13 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (The United States of America is the only country strong enough to go it alone.)
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To: RacerF150
I hate (yes HATE) each and every one of them. If they were in trouble and needed help, I could not be a good Christian. The one thing I try to do is keep as much of my money from their pockets as possible. This includes the newspaper, Hollywood, leftist companies (see Progressive Insurance, Costco) and so on. I’m a firm believer that they can not survive without our money.

I agree with you. Another thing that makes me crazy is that the politicians we are talking about don’t care beans about what we think they only care about their constituents. But, they can pass laws that affect my life and I can’t do a thing about it - blood boiling....



67 posted on 05/03/2007 11:22:39 AM PDT by Bitsy
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To: Kaslin
Attempts to obtain reaction from Murtha's office Wednesday evening were unsuccessful.

Gee, I wonder why?

68 posted on 05/03/2007 11:36:03 AM PDT by upchuck (Jesus Christ and the American Soldier: One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.)
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To: Just A Nobody
Is not Murtha the one that visited as part of a congressional trip Saigon and then voted against supporting the S. Vietnamese just before the fall of Saigon.
Just cut and run and don’t live up to our treaty agreements.
69 posted on 05/03/2007 1:51:16 PM PDT by tbird-james
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To: Just A Nobody
Is not Murtha the one that visited as part of a congressional trip Saigon and then voted against supporting the S. Vietnamese just before the fall of Saigon.
Just cut and run and don’t live up to our treaty agreements.
70 posted on 05/03/2007 1:52:38 PM PDT by tbird-james
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To: Kaslin

Does it surprise anyone that liberals are just born liars?


71 posted on 05/03/2007 1:54:20 PM PDT by scratcher
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To: bikerMD

Maybe..... nobody wants those cells. They have been contaminated with liberalism. However, I do like the way you think.


72 posted on 05/03/2007 1:57:57 PM PDT by scratcher
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To: Kaslin

Maybe, he slept through the meeting like this other infamous democrat.
73 posted on 05/03/2007 2:07:08 PM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Search for Folding Project - Join FR Team 36120)
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To: Enchante; jazusamo
Defeat Murtha!

When is this goober up for reelection? I have some money burning a hole in my wallet, and would love to give to his opposition.

74 posted on 05/03/2007 2:09:03 PM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Search for Folding Project - Join FR Team 36120)
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To: FreeAtlanta

Every 2 years, so he’ll be up again in 2008. Too bad we couldn’t knock this bozo on his #@$ last time.......


75 posted on 05/03/2007 2:25:50 PM PDT by Enchante (Reid and Pelosi Defeatocrats: Surrender Now - Peace for Our Time!!)
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To: FreeAtlanta

I’m sure he’ll be opposed in the 2008 election. If you would like me to add you to the Murtha Watch ping list, I will. As soon as a candidate comes forward to oppose him, members of the list will be notified.


76 posted on 05/03/2007 2:31:13 PM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: jazusamo

Yes, please add me.


77 posted on 05/03/2007 2:45:49 PM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Search for Folding Project - Join FR Team 36120)
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To: FreeAtlanta

Welcome, FA, you’re on board.


78 posted on 05/03/2007 2:55:51 PM PDT by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
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To: Russ

Isn’t it stunning that sissy chrissy didn’t call him on that lie right then and there? Afterall, MSNBC/NBC are full of real journalists who ask hard questions of their guests. HAHAHAHA, HOHOHOHO, HEHEHEHE.

Perhaps in the debate tonight at least one of the Presidential candidates will make a statement about the liberalism and propaganda of MSNBC. If it happens, that person will rise to the top. I don’t expect it, but it SHOULD happen, if ANYONE of these fellows had gall to make a statement against the media. Perhaps Duncan Hunter would, but the others, I doubt it.


79 posted on 05/03/2007 3:00:34 PM PDT by Laverne
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To: Kaslin

No one is more fully invested in the defeat of the United States than Democrats.


80 posted on 05/03/2007 3:46:05 PM PDT by omega4179 (Barack Hussein Obama praying 5x a day to Mecca in the Oval office.)
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