Petraeus: I Need Another Six Months To Determine Whether "We've Reached A Turning Point"

Thinkprogress.org:

In the past few months, conservatives such as Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have been quick to declare victory in Iraq. In November, McCain said that "we've succeeded militarily." A day later, Lieberman declared that "we are winning" because "we have made progress" in "one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern military history."

Gen. David Petraeus, however, appeared on NBC this morning and rebutted the declarations of mission accomplished and said that he'll need at least another Friedman Unit before he can make a judgment:

We think we won't know that we've reached a turning point until we're six months past it. We have repeatedly said that there is no lights at the end of the tunnel that we're seeing. We're certainly not dancing in the end zone or anything like that.

Read the whole story: Thinkprogress.org

Comments

[Earl]

Yeah, just a couple more six-month extensions and the turning point will be a democratic president.

[blankmw]

What a pathetic joke!!!!!

End this disastrous, unprovoked invasion NOW!!!!!

[forpeace]

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Don't be surprised if Gen. David Petraeus retires in next 6 month!

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[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

.

"Petraeus: Need 6 More Months To Know "We’ve Reached A Turning Point" In Iraq"

__________________________

Sounds like a prospective groom looking for an out!

Six more months baby ...

LOFL

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[andyboy]

Bush and Petraeus are in complete fake it mode. They are desperate to make it to November and then hightail it the fuck out of Dodge. It looks like they will get off scott free. What a country. A sad sick demoralized sot of a country. A greedy pompous lying country. By November the Republican line will go like this: We saved the economy with our stimulus package (payoff) and won the war on terror.

I mean these delusional motherfuckers are still walking around clucking about the Alzeimer's patient Ronald Reagan who slept at his desk in a fog while Ollie North (the "hero") traded arms for drugs with the Contra's under direct orders from George Bush former CIA spook and vice-president.

Cheney is today's George Bush to George W. W. is a helpless rube picked for his idiocy and malleability. Just like Ronald. George W. Bush NEVER had an original idea in his life I'd wager.

Petraeus is a liar. You can tell by the proximity of a Bush family member. George has not uttered one true word since entering the White House.

[gotalife]

The Senate passed another $696 billion for war.

They are junkies that can't stop borrowing.

At least, the troops got raise but so did Haliburton and all w's buddies.

Geez.

[ZsaZsa]

Of course he needs another six months. We're not close enough to the election yet.

[Beelzebul]

How many six-month units have they added to the Iraqizoid exit plan timeline?

How many turning points have they reached before turning back? What’s the difference between continually turning the corner and circling the drain?

How many tipping points have their been only to be followed by staying the course?

How many times has victory been declared?

Why are we in Iraq?

Why is that girly man Tom Brady in a walking cast? Did a cheerleader step on his foot?

[ChiGuy]

Surge

n.

See; "Joke"

[lornejl]

Lets negotiate, if you don't get the success you promised after 6 months, we cut off your nuts, deal ? That should have been our policy from day one, rummy, dumbya, big dick , and Condi would all be nutless if we had.

[Nyland8]

I think it's both fair and accurate to say that we've already reached a turning point in Iraq. In fact it was probably reached shortly before our first anniversary of occupation. The turning point was the point after which our continued occupation could have no positive effect. It was the point that most Iraqis realized that we weren't going to provide jobs for them, that they would continue to live in squalor, that basic services like clean water, sewage treatment and electricity would not be provided and most important, most pivotal, was the fact that we who had disbanded their military and their police force could not protect them.

After that, they started arming themselves en masse, they started defending themselves against each other, they joined militias to defend their families and protect their neighborhoods, they began engaging in revenge killings and kidnappings. A year ago this month it was reported that two million Iraqis had already fled the country, were leaving at a rate of 50,000 per month, and a few months later it was reported that another two million were already displaced within Iraq. Why have the Iraqis done all of this? It is because they know, with absolute geometric certainty, that the illegal American occupational forces in their country cannot protect them - so they are compelled to protect themselves, in any way possible. If that means displacement, if that means vengeance, if that means kidnapping and torture and execution of another rival ethnic group ... whatever it takes to protect themselves, including running away ... that's what they've done for the four years.

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[lornejl]

Let's flip a coin....crap...2 out of 3....ah shit...3 out of 5.....argh !

Right there is the Neo-Con foreign policy.

[DorianCorso]

Wasn't it about a year ago when General Betrayus first asked us for six more months ?

It's kinda like a crackhead asking for six more rocks and saying, "then will take another look at my situation."

[forpeace]

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"........We have repeatedly said that there is no lights at the end of the tunnel that we're seeing. We're certainly not dancing in the end zone or anything like that."

And these are the words of Wisdom coming out of US General's mouth!

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[andyboy]

Let's say if you have not:

Lost your job due to downsizing.

Been on unemployment.

Gone through Hurricane Katrina

Had your home foreclosed on. (No flippers)

Have no kids

You don't get any of the economic stimulus money. No rebate. Since you probably voted for George Bush both times you get nothing.