The attack on General Petraeus

I have in this column and other places been more than a little critical of what I regard as our misadventure in Iraq. However, I find MoveOn.org’s mischaracterization of General Petraeus’ recent statement as a “betrayal” of the American people to be at best scandalous, at worst simply left-wing propaganda. Bluntly, military officers in our nation are subject to the instruction and command of legitimate civil authority.

However, the General’s report was frank and, I believe, sincere — and it was his opinion, after all. I hope he was correct in many of his assessments. Especially that “Iraqi leaders are stepping forward, leading their country and their security forces courageously in the face of an enemy that has shown a willingness to do anything to disrupt the establishment of the new Iraq.”

I want the best for the people of Iraq. I also want our service personnel home as soon as possible. Could any American, any sane person, want anything less?

Again from the General’s statement, “Most important, Iraqi security forces are in the fight — so much so that they are suffering casualties as they take on more and more of the burdens to achieve security in their country.”

There seems to be plenty of support for the idea that a number of Iraqis are willing to fight and die to restore some semblance of order to their country. I think we all remember the large percentage of Iraqis who took their life in their hands to vote in contested elections. The General’s statement seems to be consistent with what has been observed up to this point.

He went on to state that, “There will be more tough times, frustration and disappointment along the way. It is likely that insurgent attacks will escalate as Iraq’s (new) elections approach. Iraq’s security forces are, however, developing steadily and they are in the fight.”

I really don’t see much in his commentary with which to argue. Recently I heard an enlisted man who had been operating with friendly Iraqi forces sum the situation up this way: While the Iraqis resent us, they are willing to cooperate with us in the short run. What they really want is all foreign elements out of Iraq, including those from other Moslem countries.

The sooner they get their wish, the better. My concern is that it is human nature to always spread the risk around when you have someone who is willing to perform hazardous tasks for you. I do not want the Iraqis to be any more dependent on us than they need to be in order stabilize their country.

I think most Americans want our forces out as soon as possible. The sticky wicket is how to time our withdrawal. I believe we need to bring our forces home before we create a false dependency with the people of Iraq. It is their country, and we have disposed of their worst elements already. We did overthrow their dictator and his sociopathic sons. The Iraqis can fight their own war from here. I do not discount assuring a supply of weaponry for their military as long as it is focused on the legitimate needs of the new government.

MoveOn.org is a group that funds left-wing Democratic candidates. I am appalled that only one Democrat candidate for President, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, has thus far denounced the language used by MoveOn.org. The two front runners for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, have not denounced the character assassination of General Patraeus.

Late last week, a vote was taken in the U.S. Senate on a measure in support of General Petraeus. The amendment in support of Petraeus passed the Senate by a vote of 72 to 25. Senator and candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination Hillary Clinton voted against the amendment. The Democrats’ other leading candidate for President, Senator Obama, didn’t vote on the matter. News reports said he was in the building. Another Democratic candidate for President, Sen. Joe Biden, chose not to vote on the measure as well. MoveOn.org is an organ of foreign-born left-wing financier George Soros.

In the 2003-2004 election cycle, Soros is reported to have spent over $23 million through various organizations trying to defeat President Bush.

NEVER FORGET

Long ago Anti-Freedom HILLARY supported Communist North Vietnam Dictator HO CHI MINH’s takeover of a then Free South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Horridly bringing down upon the once Free South Vietnamese People:

Pictures of a vietnamese Re-Education (SLAVE LABOR) Camp

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1308949/posts

..”JOURNEY from the FALL”.. MoviePremieres = Fall of Saigon CLARITY..

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1806248/posts

What price is left for the still Free (US) to pay now,

...with a still Anti-Freedom HILLARY pushing hard to re-take our precious Oval Office...

...in a new time of war
...in a new century
...with our own Freedom
...directly at stake
...right here at home..?

NEVER FORGET

I guess someone better point out to the Dincons and their Leftist trash allies that they have all ready LOST the debate on Iraq.

Funny how they are all tuning out this report.

Iraq: We Want American Security Partnership

raq wants the U.N. Security Council to extend the mandate of the 160,000-stong U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq only through the end of 2008, then replace it with a long-term bilateral security agreement, Foreign Ministry officials said Saturday.

Aides to Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the mandate extension for the U.S.-led coalition, due to be discussed at the end of this year, would be “the last extension for these forces.”

Iraq would then seek a long-term, bilateral security agreement with the United States like the ones Washington has with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt, he said.

“Iraq needs a new resolution to determine the shape of the relationship between the two countries and how to cooperate with the U.S. forces,” said Labid Abawi, a deputy foreign minister.

Zebari first disclosed the plan in an interview with the London-based Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that was published Saturday.

A resolution adopted unanimously by the U.N. Security Council on June 8, 2004, said the U.S.-led multinational force would remain in Iraq at the request of the interim government that was about to assume control of the country from the United States and Britain.

The resolution, drafted by the United States, authorizes a review of the mandate at the request of the Iraqi government every six months. The mandate last was extended for one year on Dec. 31 and expires at end of this year.

“We will ask the council to extend the mandate for another year...then our negotiations with the Security Council will be kicked off,” Zebari was quoted as saying.

“We will ask the council to include an article that allows Iraq to enter into negotiations with the United States to reach long term security agreements to meet Iraq’s security needs bilaterally,” Zebari added.

“The negotiations and talks over the security agreements will take a long time as they will cover the issues of sovereignty and immunity, the mission of these forces, Iraq’s security needs and the role of the U.S. forces in training (Iraqi forces),” he said.

Zebari said the bilateral agreement would “not set a timetable (for withdrawal of U.S. forces) ... but could include an article calls for decreasing their numbers.”

Abawi told the AP this would depend “on the situation on the ground and the readiness of the government and the army to deal with this situation.”

Last June, Iraqi legislators led by followers of a radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr passed a resolution requiring the government to seek parliamentary approval before asking the United Nations to extend the U.S. mandate.

The measure was approved along party lines — with Sunnis joining the bloc loyal to al-Sadr and another disaffected Shiite party to support it — and Shiite and Kurdish backers of al-Maliki’s government in opposition.

The parliamentary move could snarl the mandate renewal, as Iraqis and their legislative representatives grow increasingly disenchanted with the U.S.-backed government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki

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