Is Petraeus' Testimony Relevant to the Debate on Iraq?

Today, the much-anticipated testimony on the status of our combat mission in Iraq was delivered to the U.S. Senate by Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David H. Petraeus, President Bush's top commander in Iraq. Yet for me, the anticipation surrounding the testimony rings hollow given the abject failure of the "surge" tactic to achieve political reconciliation or even a reduction in overall violence. But even more fundamentally, I question the relevance of a report on the merits of a particular tactic when the underlying strategy - that there is any military solution to the civil war in Iraq - has failed. As such, the debate we should be having is not whether this tactic is having limited success or not, but rather whether our involvement in this civil war is making our country safer.

The "surge" has failed to meet its stated goals. For all the White House talk about improvements in Iraqi security, we have just witnessed the bloodiest summer yet in Iraq. Are the 30,000 additional American troops helping clear some insurgent-run neighborhoods in Iraq? Absolutely. But these insurgents just move elsewhere in the country. As one soldier told me at Walter Reed after the surge began an hour-and-a-half after our soldiers leave following a month's work, the insurgents return. In an interview on CNN this summer, General Petraeus also confirmed that American forces had to return to some neighborhoods that had already been cleared. Little wonder one opinion poll conducted jointly by the BBC, ABC News and NHK of Iraqis revealed that approximately 70% of Iraqis believe security has actually deteriorated in the area covered by the US military surge of the past six months. This "whack-a-mole" strategy has led to the bloodiest summer of the war.

General Petraeus said at the outset of the "surge" that the point was to allow the Iraqi government some breathing room to come to some sort of political reconciliation. But this hasn't happened - as many as 7 in 10 Iraqis believe the surge has made political accommodation more difficult. It would appear the Iraqis are right; according to a recently released report on Iraq by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office, Iraq has failed to meet all but three of 18 congressionally mandated benchmarks for political and military progress. Iraq's government has been a disaster - and as Petraeus himself admits, the "surge" hasn't helped matters.

The "surge" is not a strategy, it is a tactic. And the strategy has failed because we are not safer. The overriding reason we are in Iraq is because President Bush believes the war makes America safer. There's no reason to believe it is. The same BBC/ABC/NHK survey suggests that nearly 60% of Iraqis see attacks on US-led forces as justified - 93% among Sunni Muslims, who make up almost all of al Anbar Province where the Administration touts so much progress. Meanwhile, America's reputation in the world is tarnished and America's ability to combat international terrorism impaired - the result of our continued involvement in Iraq. And as we expend hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq and stretch our military thin, the Taliban is reemerging in Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden is still at large. Safer? Hardly.

By every measure, the surge has failed - to secure Iraq, to help forge political reconciliation there, or make America safer.

The debate we should be having is not on how we change tactics, but how we change policy. It is clear to me, and as today's testimony reinforces, that half-measures will not change the policy of this White House. We need to send a clear message to the President and the Iraqis that it is time for a change of course. That is why I have stated that I will not support any measure that does not include a firm, enforceable deadline for redeployment. I urge other leaders in the party to join me.

Comments

[guajiro]

Mr. Dodd, first Kerry attacks MoveOn.org and then you obfuscate the issue by backing Bush and saying we're in Iraq is: "The overriding reason we are in Iraq is because President Bush believes the war makes America safer. There's no reason to believe it is." The over-riding reason we are in Iraq, sir, is because the oil and banking interests that have long supported Bush, financing his run for governor of Texas and for president, want to realize a return on their investment in him. From a link of certain actions taken by Bush: "The Bush/Cheney administration has moved quickly to ensure U.S. corporate control over Iraqi resources, at least through the year 2007. The first part of the plan, created by the United Nations under U.S. pressure, is the Development Fund for Iraq, which is being controlled by the United States and advised by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The second is a recent Bush executive order that provides absolute legal protection for U.S. interests in Iraqi oil.

In May, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1483, which ended sanctions and endorsed the creation of Development Fund for Iraq, to be controlled by Paul Bremer and overseen by a board of accountants, including U.N., World Bank and IMF representatives. It endorsed the transfer of over $1 billion (of Iraqi oil money) from the Oil-for-Food program into the Development Fund. All proceeds from the sale of Iraqi oil and natural gas are also to be placed into the fund." New debt for Iraq will accrue through the very program that Bush pledged would "benefit the people of Iraq".

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/weekly_2003/oil_corporations_iraq_immunity.html

[guajiro]

Could it be Mr. Dodd, that the people are starting to come together and realize we are a Fascist nation instead of a democracy and that some in the Democratic Party and most in the Republican Party are closing ranks to keep the guise of a democracy going? In light of your support for the long-dismissed notion that we are in Iraq because of terrorism, your support in obfuscating for the Bush admin, you, sir, fail us when we need you most!

[guajiro]

Senator Dodd, why do you keep repeating the lie? This war was and is about oil first. The U.N. created a fund under U.S. pressure, which under the control of Paul Bremer was to transfer $1 billion of Iraqi oil money, originally designed for the oil for food program, and into a new "Development fund" that will be used to leverage U.S. backed government loans, credit and direct financing for U.S. corporate forays into Iraq. That is to say, new debt for Iraq will accrue through the very program that Bush pledged would "benefit the people of Iraq".
Senator Kerry attacks MoveOn and now you obfuscate the war? Are the people really getting that close to the truth that the Democratic party is now closing ranks with the Republican party in attempting to keep the guise of democracy over the reality of Fascism here in America?

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/weekly_2003/oil_corporations_iraq_immunity.html

[TJTelecaster]

Is Congress relevant to anything..?

Why aren't you all screaming about NSPD-51..?

Or Executive order..14348..?

"Ours is not a system based upon trust but one of suspicion"­..Senator.­.!

As Thomas Jefferson instructed us..

Try using that one..

What's the use...they are all good for shit..

Simple as that..

[IntegrityIntact]

Senator Dodd, I hope you'll read this, if you do, I want you to know my family cheered last night when you proclaimed on "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" that what you'd do in your first day in office is "restore the Constitution". (You said this somberly) These are the words that have in turn restored faith in the Democratic party for me, and I'm sure for countless others. What this says to me, (and to many americans for sure) is that you have PEOPLE and our blessed Liberty as a priority before POWER and POLITICS. You are a gem of a man and God Bless You for restoring hope in us. Surely, if one man, one politician gets it...more will follow suit and we can take this country back from the right-wing extremist politicians who care more for power consolidation and blood-soaked profit than of US The forgotten ones drowning in anger, disenchantment, and downright disbelief this has happened in this great nation. I know you will fight a great fight for us in Washington.

[tandrmcdonald]

Everyone should read at least one page in Dodd's book of letters from his father during the Nurenburg Trials. The page Keith Olbermann read on his program tonight. It warns against doing exactly what the Bush/Cheney/Rove team has done at Guantanamo.
God Help Us.
Gramma Rose

[mngeorge]

I get the impression Petraeus is soaking up the introductory accolades and he is extremely astute at military politics. I can't trust him. I mean ...when is he going to stop doodling with his notes and give the questioners their undivided attention?

He is very good at answering a question with a self serving answer that does not directly relate to the orginal question. He's a good orator.

Personally... I have to dwell on the QUESTIONS and remarks of Dodd, Hagel, Byrd, Biden, Clinton, etc. more than the answers given by Petraeus.

But you know...90% of the electorate will never have a clue what is going on and who the liars are..I suspect all is irrelevant....our nation is toast I am afraid. "...(the 2000 elections ended the Republic as I have known it)..."...Gore Vidal

[ChristinDemocrat]

I heard someone say "We would have to take land" when I was pushing Ethanol to the topp brass and I thought how stupid. Of course we will have to take land to grow corn. If you go up in a plane most of our land is setting vacant with grass of a useless crop on it. Lets fill it full of ethanol producing crops. I love the way the crooked mouths tell so many lies to keep people from moving in that direction. Lets roll out 1 million new tractors and start planting today and lets see how it will work next year.

[ChristinDemocrat]

How did The Republicans reply to Democrats gaining ground on shutting the war based on a lie. A war that is run based on a lie. A war that was started when they let Alquida through.

They rolled out Osama Bin Laden, they rolled out a yes man in Patreaus hoping his uniform again would do the job. The corrption behind Republican is so bad they would kill 1 million troops to get what they want when all we need to do roll out the tractors and start planting.

[ChristinDemocrat]

I met Mr. Dodd in South Carolina and he is a real sharp guy. Petras is only worried about 1 thing. His pension. That is what they threaten them with. Bush will strip him of his position put him out and cancel his pension and he is saying Yesssss Man!. To what ever is scripted.

The main issue here is control of Iraq Oil. If we leave Shell Exxon, Chevron, BP will loose the ruse of The Puppet Malike Government and there legislation to give it to us.

[cadawa]

Senator Dodd,
Democrats fell on their swords when they agreed to support Bush's war of aggression in Iraq. You share responsibility for his crimes.
You are guilty every day you allow it to continue.
What kind of human being thinks there are benchmarks that justify an ongoing war crime?
What kind of representation are you providing when you defy the people of this country to push the bloody agenda of the haves and have mores?
Instead of impeaching our president for his abusive of power, domestic crimes and crimes against humanity, you and other Democrats are shielding him by slow walking investigations and refusing to impeach.
You are trampling on the Constitution and putting the nation in grave danger.
If you don't care about that, at least look at your approval ratings; 18%. That's Cheney territory.

[cadawa]

Senator Dodd,
Democrats fell on their swords when they agreed to support Bush's war of aggression in Iraq. You share responsibility for his crimes.
You are guilty every day you allow it to continue.
What kind of human being thinks there are benchmarks that justify an ongoing war crime?
What kind of representation are you providing when you defy the people of this country to push the bloody agenda of the haves and have mores?
Instead of impeaching our president for his criminal behavior and crimes against humanity, you and other Democrats are shielding him by slow walking investigations and refusing to impeach. You are trampling on the Constitution and putting the nation at risk.
If you don't care about that, at least look at your approval ratings; 18%. That's Cheney territory.

[HelenIsaacson]

Thank you, Senator Dodd, for speaking out so forcefully and for asking other members of the Congress to join you. As a grandmother, I fear for the future of my young grandchildren who, if we keep being told again and again that we "need more time" might someday be asked to continue this horribly long and devastating occupation of a country whose citizens want us out. I ask other grandparents to join me in becoming activists in a struggle to create a peaceful, sane world for our grandchildren. Last year I joined with other older women to form Grandmothers Against the War. Organizing activities aimed to inform our community about what is really going on in Iraq and to inform our elected officials that the American public wants our troops home now has helped to keep us from despair at the inactivity of our leaders and the lack of critical analysis of our media. Check us out at www.gawba.org and contact us at 510-845-3815 or [e-mail] and we will help you start a group in your community with free materials and whatever advice you want from us.

[coloneblog]

Senator, Your blog is spot on; plus your interview on "Coundown" was superb. But you know as well as I, the Democrats don't have the will to alter the Cheney/bush strategy in Iraq. Then perhaps you all should take a different approach; give bush a "blank Check," give him all the money he needs conditioned on him winning in Iraq by the next July. Then if he hasn't closed the deal by that time, we'll all understand that he never will, that his war is totally lost and at that point, we'll redeploy our troops out of combat. Oh, in addition, put a clause in the agreement that bush has to go to Congress to get authorization on any extended military action through the end of his term in office. Lastly, the deal is contingent on paying-off this entire war debt with today's dollars; produced through a war tax on the richest Americans. Something of this order could unify the Democrats behind a singular effort to end the war and could even get Republicans to back it; plus it ends the occupation during bush's time in office.

[fatcat too]

Coloneblog, aren't you forgetting that great Bush invention, the line veto?

[Charles TW]

It appears that victory in Iraq means finding the best exit strategy that saves face, protects our butts, as we take firm hold of what's left of our pride.
Even as pathetic as I find the leadership and people of that part of the world to be, I don't envision them conceding an oil monopoly to the West. We are not going to build democracies in that region until the people decide that they want democracies to be built. And forming a government out of petty sheikdoms is not much different than herding Trent Lott's cats.
At some point it has to occur the West that blowing ill winds into the Middle East can only result in ill tidings. Just think of what we could have accomplished with steady rays of diplomatic sunshine instead of this ill conceived military blunder. What fascinated me most about the Pretraeus-Crocker vaudeville routine was their flawless soft shoe rendition of "Stay the Course" without either of them once suggesting a viable reason for doing so.
How can anyone even form their minds to think of America being safer when for every terrorist we kill, ten take his place. We attack two countries to root them out. They take firmer roots in at least four other countries. We come up with a tactic that we think will spell victory. They counter it with a tactic that send us scurrying back to the drawing board. We spend billions on homeland security. They need only sit back and calmly wait to spear the main chance. We and our children are safer only because we can afford to bribe reality to flatter our delusions.
www.charlestwilliams.com

[tulsadem]

Did anybody pay attention when John Warner asked Petreaus point blank whether the Iraq strategy was making America safer? He actually sat there and said he didn't know. I wonder how the soldiers who are actually FIGHTING this war must feel when they hear that!
Wow, Chris Matthews went nuts over this on his program last night but I haven't seen any discussion of it in papers or blogs. Even you, Chris Dodd didn't cite this exchange....the most important of the Petreaus testimony!!!!!!!