Petraeus: I Will Never Hold Office In This Country

General David Petraeus sat for another round of interviews in D.C. today following his second round of Capitol Hill hearings, and it's clear he doesn't spend much time in Washington, because he answered one particular question very directly: Are you gunning for political office? Petraeus, the Princeton PhD who has been called out as a shrewed political operator in the past, eschewed the coy non-answers of politicians from Condi to Al Gore and instead responded bluntly with the one word aspiring politicians never use: "Never."

That set up is way longer than the excerpt from tonight's interview with Brian Williams for "NBC Nightly News":

Williams: General, will you ever hold political office in this country?
Petraeus: Never. And I've tried to say that on a number of occasions. Some folks have reminded me of a country western song that says "what part of "no" don't you understand?

So there you have it: Petraeus does not seek political office — at all. Who knows if he'll change his mind — especially under a new administration, where, he said, he'd be open to changes of another kind:

Williams: In your job, you give orders, you also take them from your Commander in Chief. And if your commander in chief said "get out," could you carry that out?
Petraeus: Absolutely. Again, we raise our right hand, we swear to support and defend the constitution of the United States. One of the principles enshrined in the way we do business in the United States is civilian control of the military. There is also responsibility on the part of a commander, of course, to discuss what risks are associated with various courses of action. And I firmly believe, whoever it is, that is elected in the fall, will sit down and look a the various interests, try to figure out, the competing risks because there are risks beyond Iraq.

Petraeus also said that in his mind, the end of the war had actually begun, insofar as the drawdown of forces would trend toward "a thinning out." Of course, he qualified that by saying that it would occur "based on assessments that have been made of the enemy situation, the capabilities of the Iraqi forces [and] Iraqi governance," so who knows.

The full interview airs tonight (or, actually, excerpts from the full interview which will be available following the broadcast on the NBC Nightly News website). We'll add the video and a link to the transcript when it's available.

Update: Here's the video.

Comments

[ajax2]

Will you accept being the Viceroy Of Iraq? Maliki and Bremer messed up.

[scooperss]

And I would NEVER vote for you so all is well.

[batgirlevi]

Aw come on betray-us. You know you want to. You won't even have to have your lips surgically removed from bush's ass first if that's what worries you.

[Savanarola]

Thanks, David, that saves us tar, feathers and railroad fare!

[DefendOurConstitution]

What this yes-man doesn't understand is that if/once things get a little worse in Iraq he is going to be the scape goat and be thrown under the bus. After that he's not going to be able to run for dog-catcher. Give it up Petraeus you have compromised any integrity you ever had!

[NightRider]

Is it OK to call this General a Liar? I guess i just did.

To play politics with your military duty is simple unbecoming. You sir, should know that you represent your country. Not a single party. You should speak honestly and impartially. You cannot follow every orders given to you. You along with Bush are responsible for the deaths of 4000 plus American servicemen. What's next? Turn your guns and bombs on the American public? Then say i was following orders. See how that works?

You are a Liar sir and you have betrayed your country again!

[SeagirlX]

Thank God...who wants him, anyway?

[unclebucky]

Petraeus: [YOU] Will Never Hold Office In This Country because you will be held responsible for your lies about the "surge".

Not only, but you will be a witness in the prosecution at the World Court of Dumbya and Cheeny.

This is serious.

Ugh. --UB.

[AndrewShuttleworth]

Promise?

[oldjuggalo]

And the cow jumped over the moon...

[Witchitalineman]

That's good!

[joja]

Haaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaa­aa! Haaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaa­aaaa! Haaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaa­aa!

I haven't had a good laugh like that in a loooonnnnngggggggg time! That's the best joke I've heard all week!

This guy is as dumb as he looks! I guess he thinks that, if people bought the bullshit excuses for going to war in Iraq -- and STAYING there -- they'll believe anyfuckingthing!

Yeah, Dave, we believe you. Any military officer who's disagreed with Cheney or Bush on Iraq has conveniently "disappeared" and yet, there you are -- the lone voice in the desert, calling out the truth. How can so many be so wrong . . . and you, so right?

And, you're soooo believeable, too -- always giving straight answers, without superfluous jargon or circular reasoning -- just concise, exacting assessments of difficult situations.

Yes, you the man!

[mamacat]

Thank goodness for small favors. But then, never is a long, long time.

[Antisana]

How sad , Petraeus wants to have it both ways, he presents himself as a so-called expert on the Iraq psyche but fails to have the gumption to truthfully inform our derelict Commander In Chief of America's insidious and unjust intervention in Iraq's search for self identity. Our Nation's March to Follies continues unabated.

[elbram]

Anyone that does not have honor enough to stand up for American troops, should never have had the honor to lead them. Shame on you.

[Seattlelite]

Good, I'm guaranteed a good nights sleep tonight.

[fignozzle]

I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR YOU!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!