General Petraeus - Some sort of traitor-guy, or man with an ineviable job?

Question

I know little on the subject. Who can enlighten me a bit? Why do people think he's a liar and betrayer? Or does he just have a very hard job?

Answer 1

To begin with this one has nothing to do with left or right wing. Their views on Iraq policy have been set in stone for several years now, and it is unlikely that a report from General Petraeus will change any minds one way or the other.
The idea that someone is a traitor to their country just because they have a different opinion than me doesn't work. Our country was founded on having different opinions.

The job of a military leader is to advance the policies of the nation he serves. So expecting General Petraeus to do anything other than support the policies of his Commander and Chief is ludicrous (ask General MacArthur what happens when you do)

Answer 2

All Generals in time of war or conflict have an ineviable job and I would not call him or think he was a "traitor" except to those people who have a mindset that his testimony did not agree with. The General "BeTrayUs" advertisement was written, ad space purchased and ran in the paper by the moveonorg prior to him ever testifying; interesting thing that the followers do not think about what would have happend if his testimony had agreed with their "factual opinion." I think that the hatred and character assasination used by that group and espoused here by the "free thinking followers" says more about them then any words they speak.
I believe his testimony was accurate and factual, yes he may have been more optomistic sounding then some liked but those are the same people who read and agree with the ad prior to his testmony; so they had already made up there minds before he said anything. One defining trait of a bigot is some one who forms an opinion based on what someone is instead of what they say or do. He never said things were good or great-just that they were improving and it was a slow process and would continue to be. Are we as far along the path to democracy in Iraq as most people would like? No, but most people forget the years of struggle this country had before the form of government and safeguards in the Bill of Rights were decided on and approved. In other words Americans do not know or have a sense of the history of this country and based many of the expectations to establish democarcy in Iraq on a very flawed idea that everyone was ready for it-no one would dislike it-take just a few months or couple of years. None of those were realistic, many "Americans" left the U.S. after the Revolutionary War and went to Canada, the Constitution and Bill of Rights weren't ratified for many years after they were written, George Washington was offered the crown of the monarchy here but turned it down and many issues were not settled until 1865 (the federal versus states rights issue); though that discussion is still alive and limits being adjusted.
Two problems really are hurting the process in Iraq; the people still are thinking as tribes, sects, religions and ethnic groups instead of as Iraqis first and they have no "George Washington" that has stepped forward to guide them.
I think his testmony was honest and factial though may have been somewhat optimistic; the attacks on him personally tell me that that group has no facts and that honesty and integrity are lacking-all they have are opinions and hatred.

Answer 3

General Petraeus is a lifetime serviceman to the U S. his is a Combat Veteran that has risen to the rank of 4 star General, the top ranking of all military men. He represents the U. S. Troops. To call him a liar even before he said a word is a complete disrespect of this Country and OUR TROOPS.

To call him a traitor or LAP DOG without any proof at all is pathetic... who is the traitor?

Answer 4

here is a very nice article that describes the recent report.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0911-08.htm

The peice that caught my eye is the fact that the Bush admin doesn't count certain types of deaths anymore. And that they do not realize that ethnic cleansing in the regions are mostly complete through evacuations and killings.

I don't think the US can ever face or admit the fact that this war was brought on by lies that totally killed Iraq. But that's not any concern of the US at all though.

Answer 5

I don't know that he's any kind of "betrayer," or even a liar. Though I do think a lot of what he says is just so much more smoke up the taxpayers' butts.

What makes you think his job is hard though? He's got the biggest, most expensive army in the world supporting him. He's arrayed against a lot of barely organized irregulars equipped mostly with homemade bombs and seconhand assault rifles. This is a hard job?

I guess you could call it hard if you really expect him to turn Iraq into some kind of middle east version of America's Own Home Town. I doubt there's enough soldiers or money in the world to do that.

But all he reallly has to do, realisticaly, is keep his job a few more years, collect some pay, go through the motions until the US gets tired of throwing its money down this particular rathole.

Washington will find some other "big emergency" to fleece the taxpayers with, and by then he'll be about ready to retire.

Answer 6

He's the General of the entire Military effort in Iraq, How easy do you think this job would be?

people think he's a liar becasue he actually says that there is improvement to Iraq and that the mission is producing good results even if they are slow. That's not what those who are calling him a liar and betrayer want to hear.

Answer 7

yes he has a very difficult job,anytime you are a leader is a war zone no matter what size your unit, be it a fire team,squad up to the top dog it is a difficult job.as for being a traitor he is more honorable than anyone who is saying such things about him. ever hear of a saying that goes like this? the truth hurts. those on the democrat side of the aisle don't like what they are hearing because it doesn't fit their agenda. and that's all it is a political agenda, to the left at our troops expense.

Answer 8

Well he cooked the books and he doesn't work for the people, he works for Bush. Even his own Boss doesn't agree with him!

Four hours after Bushs speech we get this. AND BUSH KNEW ABOUT THIS REPORT BEFORE HE WENT ON TV TO LIE AGAIN!

White House report shows little progress By ANNE GEARAN, AP Diplomatic Writer
43 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A new White House report on Iraq shows slim progress, moving just one more political and security goal into the satisfactory column: efforts to let former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party to rejoin the political process, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

The latest conclusions, to be released Friday, largely track a comparable poor assessment in July on 18 benchmarks. The earlier White House report said the Iraqi government had made satisfactory gains toward eight benchmarks,
unsatisfactory marks on eight and mixed results on two.
Congress required President Bush to submit the report to lawmakers, assessing whether the Iraqi government had made progress toward achieving the 18 goals. In
the new report, the Iraqi government showed positive movement on only one of the benchmarks.
The goal of enacting and implementing legislation on so-called "de-Baathification" was rated satisfactory instead of unsatisfactory, the official said Thursday evening. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the report had not been made public."

The Iraqis have done squat and a yearr from now all we will have is a burnt out military, another $100 BILLION down the tubes, 1,200 more body bags, 100 more suicides!

Start the draft and get all the Republicans first for a change! They have been getting a free ride far too long!

Answer 9

A full general is not as powerful as you might think. The President is commander in chief, and is his boss, so he is under his thumbnail. If things go sour in Iraq, guess who the fall guy will be?

Answer 10

Only ignorant left wing liberals think he is a betrayer because he didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. The truth does not fit into their agenda. For them to slander this man, shows what little sniveling traitorous cowards they truly are. When they come out with this tripe, they only lower my opinion of them yet again.