The Conditions Of Petraeus' Iraq Report

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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Sixteen years on Face The Nation has taught me one thing: When I ask a question and guests start laying out conditions such as "first let me tell you," or "the real questions is," or "it is important to put that in context," I know we're headed down the old rabbit trail that will take us anywhere but to a straight answer.

When people want to answer, they do so quickly, directly and clearly. When they don't we get all those conditions and lectures about the importance of context.

So excuse me for getting a little suspicious after hearing the White House is proposing some new conditions on the delivery of General Petraeus' long-awaited report on progress in Iraq – conditions such as the White House wanting the general to deliver the report to Congress behind closed doors while cabinet officers do the talking in public.

And, suddenly we're told the general won't actually write the report but that his thoughts will be incorporated in a summary prepared by the White House.

Mind you, this is the report the president has said over and over that he will use to decide where we go from here in Iraq.

Over and over, we've been told not to rush to judgment until we hear from the general.

Now we're hearing all these new conditions.

Maybe it's because I've been dragged down the old rabbit trail too many times by too many people with something to hide, but this doesn't sound like we're headed to a straight answer.

No, this sounds like anything but. And that is a real shame.

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E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer

[one_american]

Hey, Bob-

In a radical, 180-degree "change of course", Hillary Clinton is now saying that the "surge is working".

It''s just a matter of days before all of the Democrats will be saying the same thing - and then claiming that they knew the surge would work all along.

Don''t let your opinion get too far in front of the facts on the ground, OK Bob?

One_Asshole wrote:

"What you are currently doing is a DISSERVICE to the public."

Sounds like you''re talking about GW Bush and the rest of his corrupt and inept Administration.

[doop52333]

If what Schieffer said were true, it would be a matter for concern. It is not true. It is based on a Washington Post story, which in turn was based on speculation by an anonymous source. The story was repudiated by the White House, and in any case, it didn''t say what Schieffer said.

Petraeus is going to speak in both open and closed sessions. As for the written report, it always was going to be a product of the White House, because that''s what the legislation Congress passed requires.

Repeating for those who are blinded by Bush Derangement Syndrome: There Is No Change in the way the report will be compiled and/or disseminated.

Good grief, people. Get a grip.

[goamerica]

There is a lot of private industry in this country that is VERY DEPENDENT ON THIS WAR''S CONTINUATION. Where are our senators and congressmen? Supporting private industries in their home states!

I just heard a news report the other day that indicated, "this rise in recent deaths in Iraq is actually a sign that the SURGE IS WORKING."

They''re going to spin it -- we''re going to take it! I keep praying for somebody to institute the draft -- that is the ONLY way the people are going to stand up and SPEAK FOR PEACE!!!

[one_american]

Bob, when opinion-pushing talking heads like you start thrusting your take on the public ahead of any report from the White House, it only means one thing; YOU''RE SPINNING THE NEWS, TRYING TO NEGATIVELY INFLUENCE THE PUBLIC.

Knock it off, crusty old man.

Just give us straight reporting of the facts.

Stop coloring the answers, especially BEFORE they are given.

What you are currently doing is a DISSERVICE to the public.

[tomar0317]

Unfortunately this comes as no surprise. We the people have been lied to, told mistruths, and been the victims of a very poor political agenda that starts right at the top. As long as the elected folks can rest assured they stay in office, or retire with benefits only they get because thats the way they approved the package,they will continue to abuse us. It has been said by many before me that we need to hold all our leaders accountable. We need remove those that care not for us unless it''s election time. The election is coming... it''s up to us!

[actornaught]

The filtered progress report is just more of the gross manipulations of this white house.

Can someone please tell me if and where there''s an objective accounting of where the money came from that got us this president?

Except for being the son of a former president, he was a nobody on the national stage until there were reports of how much campaign money was accumulating for him. There never was talk about how he was a good leader in any venue he participated, just money, and we''ve all found out why.

[walt1944-2009]

Why doesn''t this surprise me? It''s hard enough to get a straight answer out of any politician, but to hear the truth from the Bush White House is like expecting a neocon to admit there is global warming while the flood waters are rising all around him.

Everyone knows that the "official" report is going to be a pile of BS, mostly because the White House, maybe even Bush himself, is going to write the thing (check that spelling and grammar someone!) and pass it off as what the military is saying. You want the real story, talk to a vet from Iraq who is "between tours" and has his/her uniform off, and you get the real story.

The bottom line to all this is going to be what it has been for the past 4 years: STAY THE COURSE (and see if I give a ***)!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[drummer94]

"These lying sacks of shi_t need to be held accountable" posted by mcdazz at 02:46 AM. Oh they will be, dazz. I just hope the general has the coconuts to realize he is responsible to us and not the loony-toon in da house. I used to think that history would be George''s judge, but we can no longer wait for history, tomorrow if you will, to judge. We know this endeavor was/is a HUGE mistake and we need to act. 2008 will put our boat on the proper course, but can we afford to wait till then? I think not.

[goldesprit]

Can Bob Schiffer really expect the truth from Bush and General?

DUH. Absolutely positivly we will expect the truth one way or another --this is just the start of the extraction.

And you don''t have to like it.
It is not just for your entertainment...dig?????