Why are politics and power far more important to the Dems than an American victory in Iraq.?

Question

The anti-Iraq-war crowd is always quick to say they “support the troops.” But it’s not an expression of support when you accuse the top “troop” of lying, cherry-picking facts, and serving as a uniformed mouthpiece for the president, especially when all evidence is to the contrary.

That’s exactly what MoveOn.org has done with its full-page ad in the New York Times, accusing the top “troop” — four-star Gen. David Petraeus — of “betraying” the nation he has sworn to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic. Many top Democrats — accepting backing from MoveOn and refusing to take a public stance against the organization’s very public condemnation of the general — are also guilty by association.

Worse, during this week’s Iraq-report hearings, many of those same Democrats lied on the record by expressing “respect” for the “distinguished” and “honorable” service of both Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on the one hand, then accusing both men of presenting a report that required — in the words of Sen. Hillary Clinton — “the willing suspension of disbelief.”

They can’t have it both ways. Petraeus cannot be an honorable man (honorable men only tell the truth), and at the same time a liar who would betray his country. He’s one or the other.

The problem for the Dems is that they — and most of the country — know he’s the former. The Dems also know that he is the ranking American soldier in Iraq, and whether or not they support the war, they’ve all been proclaiming support for the troops despite how hollow that support may ring.

Petraeus’s truth is a serious problem for the Dems, and one that was foretold by one of their own, Congressman Jim Clyburn, a few months ago.

When asked what the Democrats would do if Petraeus returned in September with good news about real progress in Iraq, Clyburn — who I’m ashamed to admit hails from my own state of South Carolina — said, “Well, that would be a real grave problem for us, no question about it.” Why? Because politics and power are far more important to the Dems than an American victory in Iraq.

They know it. They dare not for political reasons admit it: just like they dare not admit their contempt for Petraeus because he is the starched, polished, and bemedaled symbol of what they all along have claimed to support: which is “the troops” in Iraq.

As Congressman Roy Blunt said:

It’s not every day that sees a four-star general, a Princeton Ph.D., a recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and the chief author of the Army’s definitive counterinsurgency manual testify before Congress. But in Gen. Petraeus, my colleagues were presented with every bit of that assembled expertise in the form of a single man.

Again, this is part of the problem for the Democrats, because as they well-know, Petraeus is simply too distinguished, too educated, too decorated, too experienced, and too believable to the American people to suit the Dems.

Simply put, Petraeus entered the halls of Congress this week, a strong man armed with the truth. And it was not the truth they wanted to hear. Nor was it the truth some of their supporters, like MoveOn.org, wanted to hear. The MoveOn crowd knew the honorable and believable general was coming, so they preempted the truth with their $65,000 smear (The Times cut them a very big break on a $181,000 ad), and it backfired on all of them.

Sure, the Dems say they support the troops, but only because they see the rank-and-file troops as being too young, dumb, and inexperienced to know what’s best for them. The Dems will publicly proclaim that the troops have performed magnificently, yet they say their efforts have failed.

Sen. Joe Biden loves to publicly refer to soldiers as “kids.” And they — the big congressmen and senators on Capitol Hill — are best suited to make wartime strategic and tactical decisions for those “kids.”

In other words, the Dems want to keep the troops in their places. The Dems want to appear to the rest of America that they have the troops best interests at heart. The Dems want the troops’ votes, and they are stymied by the fact that in an unpopular war, the military enlistment and reenlistment rates continue to meet or exceed goal, and the troops — by and large — don’t vote for Democrats.

So the Left in this country actually has two problems when it comes to Iraq: First, we’re making solid gains in a very tough counterinsurgency. Petraeus and Crocker have reported the situation as they know it to be, and as Clyburn says, that’s “a real grave problem” for the Dems.

Second, the Left simply doesn’t understand the modern American military. These aren’t “kids.” These are professionals. And serving among these professionals are literally thousands of potential Petraeuses. Of course, they won’t all wear stars, because the competition for such lofty rank is so keen, their peers and competitors so sharp. But what the Left doesn’t understand — and what was so obvious to me in Iraq, and now watching the hearings here this week — is that the troops are reflected in Petraeus, and Petraeus can be seen in them.

Answer 1

The war against Terror in not in Iraq. That is the war for oil.

Read the two links below and please don't think of it as a war between the Democrats and Republicans.

This is a war between the Terrorist and US. What would we win if we could win in Iraq?

Your question is too long to read, but the time we will be in Iraq is much longer.

Unless we have a draft and all Americans on board and in the fight ... we can lose and it won't be just in Iraq. Please read the first link below.

I served 21 years in the Army and I am ready to defend our country and our way of life. I also volunteered for Desert Storm and Afghanistan.

Answer 2

And I thought I was long winded. The hypocrisy is that as an officer, it is Congress who voted on and approved his promotions. Being a four star means that he made General long before Bush got into office -- meaning that it's not about HIS (the General's) politics.
If the war is going so incredibly bad, then why as the majority, have the democrats not brought this thing to an end? It's not that they cannot. It's more about choice and power.

Answer 3

how bout giving the guy some time to do the job? whats with you republicans and dems that want to the each others elected presidents out the window at a drop of a hat? This is why I am a moderate and independent. Your an American first and support the president and give him time. We gave George W. eight years!! What got accomplished????

Answer 4

Your question is toooooooooo long!

This is not a fight between the right and left, conservatives and liberals, democrats and republicans. This is a fight between the Terrorist and US.

Their stated goal is to convert us to Islam or kill us. The war in Iraq is about oil. It has helped the cause of terrorism.

The link below should help you understand. It was not written by a General, but it seems to be on target.

Answer 5

The Democrats are absolutely in it for big government to run our lives. Hillary wants power the most of any of them. They believe lies, and demeaning the Republicans will bring victory. A majority of Americans won't buy it.

Answer 6

I would LOVE to see all the Generals thumb their noses at the Congress and tell them off.
The entire military should just tell them "we came to do a job and we're going to do it... it's what we do well. you can go back to doing what you do well... giving yourself raises and getting involved in scandals".

This is the single worst Congress with the single lowest approval rating in history.

Answer 7

How many more American lives do you think should have to be sacrificed chasing after this elusive victory?

Answer 8

why is enering a war that was easily avoidable and staying forever at God knows what cost more important to Conservatives than the Constitution or anything else patriotic Americans respect??

Answer 9

You think Bush isn't playing politics with his policies?

You really do have your head in a sack.

rm 0475 has got to be kiiding. It's wrong to pick on a decorated officer?

You guys won by doing that against Kerry!!!!! And Murtha... and on an on.

Jesus, Republicans are hypocrites.

Answer 10

You're right. It is pretty pathetic for democrats to pick on a decorated officer.

The worst thing for democrats would be for this war to actually succeed.