Gen. Patraeus backs Obama...ballgame?

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I think I need Cenk to certify how big an elbow from the sky this is.

McCain has constantly mocked Obama by saying Barack's attitude of negotiating with our enemies is a clear indication of his lack of experience in foreign policy matters. McCain also cites Gen. Petraeus as often as he can as he tries to use his support of "the surge" to demonstrate his judgement. Well, Gen. Petraeus just destroyed his argument with his appearance at the Heritage Foundation.

The Washington Independent:

Petraeus also came out unambiguously in his talk at Heritage for opening communications with America’s adversaries, a position McCain is attacking Obama for endorsing. Citing his Iraq experience, Petraeus said, “You have to talk to enemies.” He added that it was necessary to have a particular goal for discussion and to perform advance work to understand the motivations of his interlocutors.

All that was the subject of one of the most contentious tussles between McCain and Obama in the first presidential debate, with Obama contending that his intent to negotiate with foreign adversaries without “precondition” did not mean that he would neglect diplomatic “preparation.”

McCain, apparently perceiving an opportunity for attack, Tuesday again used Obama’s comments to attack his judgment. “Sen. Obama, without precondition, wants to sit down and negotiate with them, without preconditions,” McCain said, referring to Iran.

Yet Petraeus emphasized throughout his lecture that reaching out to insurgent groups — some “with our blood on their hands,” he said — was necessary to the ultimate goal of turning them against irreconcilable enemies like Al Qaeda in Iraq.

I wonder what McCain will say at the 3rd presidential Debate when Obama brings all this up. Will McCain say that Petraeus was just a little confused? I guess we should just ask Sean Hannity since he basically runs the messaging of McCain's campaign. If you get the chance, call in to his radio show, ask him, record it and send me the audio.
Gen. Petraeus also wants to negotiate with the Taliban.

< LOL Check out this Headline | Go See Henry Rollins. >
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This is awesome.  And on the same day Palin is found to have abused power--big surprise, I know. 

Buh Bye McPalin!!

 

by desertpear on 10/10/2008 11:31:54 PM EST


The other one the right wing nut bags on this message board and McCain say is Obama doesnt want victory  in Iraq..

General Petraeus:

"This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade...it's not war with a simple slogan."

"I Don't Know That I Will Ever Use The Word Victory For Iraq"

by Chinese Democracy on 10/11/2008 02:04:58 AM EST



We were PROMISED a victory!  Bush said we could win.  McCain says we can win!

Damn!  We've been misled again.  Why do Republicans always do that?

by EveningStarNM on 10/11/2008 01:54:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]

...that Petraeus is a Republican?

The way I remember it, it took Bush years to give the command to Petraeus after it was obvious, at least to the Democrats, that he was the person to quell the violence in Iraq.

Listeners to Al Franken's old Air America show should remember this well.  Franken was (and still is) a HUGE fan of Petraeus, years before he was given the top command in Iraq.

by rbruck on 10/11/2008 05:05:28 PM EST


There was a New Yorker profile on him recently, and I came away with the thought that he tries very hard to do his job without partisan bias.  He seems to take his role in the military very seriously and not really be into politics.  I gained a new respect for the guy.  And he really is incredibly intelligent and rewrote the book on counterinsurgency strategy.  HE is the real reason there has been success in Iraq, not the Republicans or Democrats.  Good for him.  He's also only 5'9" and so athletic you would best not get in a fight with him.  Cute too.  Oops!!  I bet Obama keeps him around.

by desertpear on 10/11/2008 05:51:48 PM EST

[ Parent ]
.....while still in uniform.  Petreaus is no mental light-weight.  He has a PhD from Princeton.  He should have known his statement would be interpreted as overtly political and he should not have made it.  It seems as though he plans to be in uniform for a while longer as he just took over Centcom.  If he wants to make political statements he should retire and seek to gain a political position.

Sean
Portland
2trope.com

by sfinneganus on 10/12/2008 01:53:52 AM EST


He was already doing this as part of his counterinsurgency effort long ago.  It's part of the new counterinsurgency manual for the military that he wrote.  I don't see that repeating it in public makes him partisan.  He did not come out and say anything about either candidate in particular, did he?

peace ;)

by desertpear on 10/12/2008 01:59:22 AM EST

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