General David Petraeus is an admirable man and soldier. Not only because of his extraordinary career in the military, but because he can sit comfortably in a room full of true and striving erudite interrogators and talk for hours telling them little more than they already know.
There is much to be said for not spilling the beans to the enemy regarding how you'll go about achieving victory -- even if we had a definition. And a "realist," as he refers to himself, knows that all too well. It would be ludicrous to pull out a series of slides showing which regions of Iraq will be targeted in the near future, how that will occur, and how long it will take to the hour.
The General thus had the upper hand as he spoke before senators on Tuesday. And yet he addressed each with respect, listened intently, and graciously allowed that often their concerns were his as well.
Petraeus adeptly replied to Senator Evan Bayh's defense as patriotic the views of those who differ with current military policy. "Senator, we fight for the right of people to have other opinions" the general replied -- a conversational nanosecond between question and answer. His conviction was total. If you didn't have a lump in your throat a moment before, you likely did after that compelling expression of the real reason for war - to protect and preserve what we as Americans hold dear.
But is that what we're doing in Iraq? Here again skill was evident. And I don't mean deception. In fact, General Petraeus' most impressive communication attribute is his ability to respond to all questions in a forthright manner. If only such conviction could be bottled. This is not to say that he avoids all forms of diversion, fractionation of larger issues into smaller ones, segues to more favorable topics, and strategic ambiguity, but he doesn't appear to lie. Study his demeanor for micro-expressions and disconnects indicating otherwise, and you're likely to come away wanting.
His winning smile is no small asset either. Could you have a beer with this man? Probably even two. And it would be a most pleasant memory.
Were the senators and congressmen duped this week? No. They were simply outmatched. Many good questions were posed. Positions were advanced, during which the general remained largely silent -- not tempted to interrupt with reckless defense. This willingness to listen is an extremely rare talent in both communication and persuasion.
The respectful general patiently delivered the single most important message - we are stuck in Iraq for a very long time to come. Conditions are constantly shifting on the ground, and so no prediction is worth more, he seemed to convey, than the air its expression would emit.
As many a senator attempted to "appear" a commander-in-chief, pressed by the press to do so, the general remained sure that the real one was not in the room. Until he is actually face-to-face in the White House with the next one, this soldier has little to say about what constitutes acceptable, admirable and ideal victory even if someone thinks to ask for such a breakdown. His mission is clear, his commitment complete and until we get our act together, he will do as both instruct.