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

[hope]

I wonder about something....

If a President Hillary, Edwards or Obama manage to extract America from Iraq without PSA's being in place, but by means that are as peaceful as possible, while successfully forming some sort of coalition within that countries factions and minimizing outside political influence, will they be regarded by Republicans as successful and visionary?

[Danny]

We are in a "mess" in Iraq because the "insurgents" are the "resistance". If Iraqis were kicking your doors down in the middle of the night in the U.S., you would "resist". And you would be be labeled "insurgents" by the Iraqi government.

[Birdman]

It's always another six months for these people. Hey Patreous we are sick of another Six months. If you were my employee with all these lame excuses you would have been fired long ago. Imagine if this guy were a CEO the company would have been bankrupt a year ago and he would be telling stock holders just give me 6 more months. Enough is enough we lost, face it Rumsfeld's poor planning has dooomed this mission from day one.

[NotaBeliever]

GWBush has no intentions of looking at the situation in Iraq in 6 months to see if we've reached a turning point. He will step down from office a year from now, with guns still blazing, and the Republicans will blame it all on the Dems, because with the smallest of majorities in Congress the war was not ended by Us. We know this to be true. Every day, they post here on HuffPo, blaming Reid and Pelosi for not ending the war, even though they don't have the numbers. I'm as sick of it all as anyone, but I see they don't have the numbers. Whether to return those Dems to Congress who did nothing to help the situation is a question everyone should ask. Or perhaps a greater majority would help stiffen their backbones and do the right thing.

[Gary47]

Well, damn good thing we got that mission accomplished.

May all kids and grandkids for generations to come learn and forswear the evil warmongering of this administration.

[andyboy]

So both the turning point and the $500-$1000 tax rebate (vote buyer) will both occur just prior to the Presidential election. Hmm.

Can we set it up so just Democratic voters get the tax rebate? Since presumebly the Republican voters were all for this bullshit that's been flung on us. They can just forego their stimulus package. It will be their sacrifice for Mother Country.

What do you say you fucking greedy trolls? Refuse the cash. Since you don't need it.

[rivrgrrl]

MoveOn has been proven correct

He is Gen. Betray Us.

[Tom95134]

Remindsd me of the joke about people drinking at various times at work and the boss finally comes in and says something to the effect, "This constant sip, sip, sip has got to stop!"

[JamesR.]

A Friedman unit on its face isn't too long. Now 12 Friedman units in a row and your talking a real big fuckup.

[mommadona]

Let's review:

They invented Chess.
We play marbles.

Dear General Petraeus,
The answer is NO. NO MORE TIME.

And DON'T try to go all "MacArthur" either.
Take it like a man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur

Sincerely,
The People Who are Paying Your Salary

[CFAmick]

How many GODDAM times are we going to hear "wait six months" from these people?

[OneTop]

I suppose the General has to say something ....

Bush Inc. has no intention of leaving in 6 months or 6 years ... and whoever follows as far as that goes.

A billion $ Embassy
14 Permanent Military Bases

Oil .... mmmm mmmm !

[Give Peace A Chance]

Last throes, if you will.

We really mean it this time.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

.

Fucking LIAR.

God I wish lying about a blowjob was again this nation's biggest concern.

Six months is just enough time to tell the electorate that only a Republican can save us.

Every Republican in the Bush 'Menstruation should be charged with treason and given the penalty that follows.

.

[hope]

I don't really get the point of the General's comment.

We all know we aren't leaving in 6 months anyway.

And we all know we will be there for quite a few 6 month increments once Hillary is in office.

So why not just say in 60 years, history will tell us whether we've reached a turning point or not?