En Route To Germany, Obama Praises Petraeus And Crocker

In advance of his Thursday address in Berlin, Obama chats with reporters on the plane, Carrie Budoff Brown reports:

Asked if he expected a million screaming Germans, as some of predicted, Obama said:

"I doubt we are going to have a million screaming Germans. Let's tamp down expectations."

He continued:

"I did not realize - my staff just told me the space is bigger" than he'd first realized, he told the press, who asked if that was a bad thing.

"It is a potentially bad thing," he said to laughs. "We are sort of on the high wire. I was like, 'I'm sorry, how many does this accommodate?'"

ALSO, more praise for Crocker and Petraeus.

On Ambassador Crocker: "A real unsung hero in this whole process. Incredibly savvy, but humble and self effacing."

Petraeus: "An extraordinarily capable person."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[hoopesaz]

I am constantly reassured when Obama seems unafraid to buck the standard democratic party line on things like this. I hope his reason and tone catch on with his supporters. Certainly couldn't hurt the political debate in this country.

[Ariadne]

I'm sure Petraeus is a capable person. He deserves an honest and capable Commander in Chief to work with too.

[Michale32086]

Well said...

And dead on ballz accurate to boot..

Michale.....

[steamboat]

You miss the point: Obama's view of him is OPPOSITE that of MoveOn and Daily Kos. Didn't they refer to him as 'Betrayus'?.....so whose right and whose wrong?

[steamboat]

Ariadne, I'll try again. I hope HuffPo didn't censor my comment the 1st time I tried........

Ariadne, you miss the point. Obama's opinion is OPPOSITE that of Daily Kos and MoveOn. Remember, they said 'General Betrayus'. Therefore, whose right and whose wrong?

[kellygrrrl]

it will be very interesting to see what the military vote turns out to be this Nov.

also interested to see how many of these military commanders come forth against the Boosh policies as soon as it is safe to do so

[KBAR]

I guess BHO didn't get the moveondotorgy memo.

[Michale32086]

I am sure that Obama did get the memo..

He simply discarded it as the trash that it is...

Michale.....

[theMightyT]

still got nothin, hey kbar?

[levibatgirl]

Holy shi+!

mcrumpelstiltskin is gonna have a hissy when he hears this.

[OverIt]

After meeting with Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker, maybe Obama knows something we don't know!

NYTimes: Asked by a Democratic lawmaker a while back why there weren"t more Democrats in the military, General Petraeus smiled slyly and said "there are more than you think."

[harriscrl3]

I believe Obama is going to keep Patreous on if he is the next President. Even though Patreous doesnt support his 16 month plan he realize that they each have different goals and he is not about to say well since you dont agree with me I'm gonna get rid of you. Thats the hallmark of a good leader to respect their position even though they differ but at the same time set boundaries. He basically told Paterous I understand your concern but I'm required to look at the big picture and this is my mission my strategy to get us out of Iraq. I think he is setting the boundaries between Commander in Chief and the generals on the ground while at the same time recognizing and taking into account the generals constraints. The AMerican people didnt elect Patreous they elected the President and its up to him to determine the strategy.

Carol

[Michale32086]

I could not possibly agree with you more..

When I was an EllTee during the Desert Storm, I would discuss issues and such with my immediate subordinates and the one who most disagreed with me became my second-in-command.

Obama's actions the last month or two have shown me he is not above listening to anyone, even if he doesn't agree with them...

It has caused my support for Obama to increase dramatically..

Michale.....

[Gumby123]

Obama giving Petraeus praise is going to tick off a lot of folks on the left.

[Sumocat]

Basic diplomacy, you don't go to other nations and talk about how much we suck, like saying "goodbye from the world's biggest polluter".

[geobushono]

Obama actually said petrayus was the "best we've seen".........that is faint praise.

[Michale32086]

The next POTUS actually complimenting Ambassador Crocker and General Patreaus on the fine job they are doing in Iraq...

The hysterical Left is going to go ballistic!!!

Michale.....

[VOTER]

As their President and Commander in Chief, Obama will, while respecting them,

not necessarily agree with them.

What don't you get?

Sorry, Michale..................... I appreciate having an adult with intelligence in a leadership position.

VOTE OBAMA!

[Michale32086]

I couldn't agree with you more...

I am referring the the hysterical Left's tendency to attack anyone who doesn't share in the absolute demonizing of anything they (the hysterical Left) don't agree with..

The attacks on Senator Obama for his recent stands is a prime example of that..

For the record, I am an adamant and provable Obama supporter..

Michale.....

[Krikkit]

The diplomats and diplomatic corps never get the praise or credit they deserve, usually because they aren't out there seeking the spotlight and the military always grabs MSM's attention to the exclusion of all else.

Bolton, Bush's pick for the UN post, is NOT and never has been a diplomat.

[kingshmoopy]

This is very, very true and, as the wife of a diplomat, I thank you for posting it.

[independent32955]

glad you have accepted that Obama is the next POTUS...that's enough for me.

[PATina]

Why would they go ballistic??? It wasn't their call to go into Iraq.... they are just doing the job they are paid to do.

[Michale32086]

General "Betray-Us"????

'nuff said...

Michale.....

[wedgie]

The hysterical left says, "Look statesmanship. Haven't seen that in eight years have we?"

THAT'S what the hysterical left says.

**

[soithoni]

not denying it, is that what YOU hysterical says?

You are so cryptic when you talk! You can talk plainer than that!! Show us your Rush badges!!

[Mogamboguru]

WTF!?

[DAVESEAN]

RIGHT ON THE MONEY......MCBUSH KEEPS PARROTING GEN PETRAEUS EVERY SECOND.......FORGETTING EVERY OTHER PERSON

[independent32955]

that's not true, but bush DOES give away who he thinks is responsible for success...in that he NEVER mentions the diplomat and ONLY mentions the General...there's another candidate who does that too...hmmm!

[soithoni]

He wanted to be a BananaBoatCaptain, but his ears kept getting in the way of the big big dress caps.