Iraq Report Card: Surge Is Working

Top U.S. Commander And Ambassador Warn Congress Against Major Shift Away From Current Strategy

(CBS/AP)  Gen. David Petraeus told Congress on Monday he envisions the withdrawal of roughly 30,000 U.S. troops by next summer, beginning with a Marine contingent later this month.

In long-awaited testimony, the commanding general of the war said last winter's buildup in U.S. troops had met its military objectives "in large measure."

As a result, he told a congressional hearing and a nationwide television audience, "I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to the pre-surge level ... by next summer without jeopardizing the security gains we have fought so hard to achieve."

Petraeus unleashed a volley of numbers to support his claim the surge is working, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. He said the number of attacks in Iraq is lower than at any time in more than a year; civilian deaths are down by 45 percent; and sectarian killings are down by 55 percent.

But the charts show violence is still high, running at levels comparable to 2005, before the bombing of the Samarra mosque triggered sectarian fighting that nearly tore Iraq apart, adds Martin.

Testifying in a military uniform bearing four general's stars and a chestful of medals, Petraeus said he had already provided his views to the military chain of command.

Rebutting charges that he was merely doing the White House's bidding, he said firmly, "I wrote this testimony myself. It has not been cleared by nor shared with anyone in the Pentagon, the White House or the Congress."

Petraeus' testimony came at a pivotal moment in the war, with the Democratic-controlled Congress pressing for troop withdrawals and the Bush administration hoping to prevent wholesale Republican defections.

Ambassador Ryan Crocker, testifying alongside Petraeus, strongly suggested the administration's troop buildup had prevented a debacle.

Crocker said 2006 was a "bad year for Iraq. The country came close to unraveling politically, economically and in security terms. 2007 has brought improvement."

But Crocker, evaluating Iraq's ability to govern itself, the ultimate goal of the surge, has a lot fewer success stories to point to than Petreaus, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod, with a paralyzed parliament unable so far to pass major laws that would foster Sunni-Shiite reconciliation.

"I do believe that Iraq's leaders have the will to tackle the countries pressing problems, although it will take longer than we originally anticipated," said Crocker.

Mr. Bush and his political allies have worked forcefully in recent weeks to shore up Republican support. One organization with ties to the administration has spent millions on television advertisements, and Mr. Bush traveled to Anbar province last week to highlight improved security in the vast western stretches of Iraq.

Mr. Bush also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the hours before Petraeus spoke, and is expected to deliver a nationwide address on the war in the next few days.

Mr. Bush has urged lawmakers to listen to Petraeus with an open mind, but CBS News correspondent Chip Reid reports many influential Democrats said they already know what he's going to say and have already rejected it.

"The president's policy as well as his surge are not working," Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., told CBS News. "The policy was to build up the Iraqi army so we could stand down. It's an abject failure."

Petraeus said that a unit of about 2,000 Marines will depart Iraq later this month, beginning a drawdown that would be followed in mid-December with the departure of an Army brigade numbering 3,500 to 4,000 soldiers.

After that, another four brigades would be withdrawn by July 2008, he said. That would leave the United States with about 130,000 troops in Iraq, roughly the number stationed there last winter when President Bush decided to dispatch additional forces.

He said he believes withdrawals could continue even after the 30,000 extra troops go home, but added that it would be premature to make any further recommendations.

Initial reaction from Democrats was sour.

Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was a "token withdrawal," and Petraeus rebutted him swiftly.

"A very substantial withdrawal," he countered.

The extent of any improvement in Iraq has been a matter of debate. The Government Accountability Office, a congressional agency, recently reported that Iraq has partially achieved only four of 18 political and military goals.

An administration report earlier this summer showed mixed results, as well.

While Petraeus focused his remarks mostly on military matters, he also noted the failure thus far of the Iraqi government to take the actions needed to stabilize the country for the long term.

"Lack of adequate governmental capacity, lingering sectarian mistrust, and various forms of corruption add to Iraq's challenges," he said.

Using 13 pages of colorful charts, Petraeus conceded that the military gains have been uneven in the months since Bush ordered the buildup last winter.

[toldyouso21]

"I''m absolutely totally 100 percent against a political redeployment or political management of how to use the troops," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "I will leave it up to Petraeus. I trust him. He has delivered."

"and now, continues Graham, "if you will excuse me, Craig and I have to go to the bathroom" (theorectical sentence addition) LOL.

[jerr11]

I remember there was a great soldier who did another presentation with false facts and figures in front of the UN, and he led us to this war.

Now here we have another great soldier, widely admired and respected, who''s decided to play politics too and tell lies and present false facts to cover up for his boss!

When it comes to credibility, this White House is full of it!

Where is Gonzalez when we need him?

[bluestardad]

MORE BUSHIT

PRESENTED BY ANOTHER BOBBLE HEAD GENERAL WHO SELLS THE LIVES OF HIS TROOPS FOR HIS CAREER!

BUSH AND HIS NEOCONS WROTE THE REPORT

SINCE BUSHIT HAS NO CREDIBILITY HE SENDS A GENERAL OUT TO SPEAK THE LIES IN AN EFFORT TO BLIND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAIN...

WANT SOME KOOL AID...

WHEN THE REPUBLICANS GET OUT OF THE BROTHELS AND GAY MENS ROOMS THEY WILL VOTE TO KEEP FUNDING THE WAR IN IRAQ UNTIL THE 08 ELECTIONS!

[jerr11]

Thw surge is going great! Our President tells us.

Meanwhile over on another channel:

VOLUNTEERS COLLECT BAGHDAD''S DEAD

Volunteers carry out one of Iraq''s most somber chores: Burying the charred remains of men, women and children. The sheik who leads them says he doesn''t need the military to tell him what''s going on. "The streets are flowing with blood," he told CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/10/iraq.deadbodies/index.html

Heckuva job, Bush!

[oakishpines]

'' ... though i move across on the ground, the ground too moves across on me, though the trees look as statues, they dance, and as i dance between them, they too likely think i stand as still as a statue, though my wings and tails and fins and gills seem to me broken and lost, my flight grooves, i just don''t feel so well just now, but i only feel as such a statue, but i am not, and were i, i would be but like the trees, a seeming statue, but very very rhthmic and melodic just the same ... ''

'' ... if you want seven billion songs and dances and get well soon bouquets, just bomb vanhatten and they will be yours, but why bother, you can have them anyway just by asking for them ... ''

[pepperp1]

Petraeus is Bushs top pitchman. He is just one of the bottom feeder sycophants that Bush puppets the former head of the RNC is running the Petraeus communication strategy and has arrange for him to exclusively appear on Fox noise clearly indicating this is about that sick sect cultist Base in the Party not true Americans, not our beloved troops. Enough said, this is a distraction to provide an appearance of consideration which it is clearly not.









The Dems DO NOT have the votes in the Senate and can make no change the Iraq war Course, the Dems have only 50 of 67 votes needed to stop the sacrifice of our solders and treasury to change course 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS, 17 REPUBLICAN SENATORS change their vote and bring our troops home..





Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops so they may come home and live long lives with their families.



Call your Senator tell him to execute the will of the people not a perverted Political Party agenda. Make your voice heard let them know your vote will hold them accountable for our dead and debt.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[omega39-2009]

Latest Gallup/USA poll, 60% want a time line for troop withdrawals. Time for Congress and the President to start paying attention to the people of this country.

[prinzowhales]

Is that Barney or a general in the United States Army trailing along and wagging its tail behind Bush?

Senator Bob Graham, Democrat of Florida, was having breakfast with the Pakistani ISI general, Mahmoud Ahmad, on 9-11. He was the money man who wired alleged lead hijacker, Mohammed Atta, $100,000.

Senator Lindsay Graham, Republican of South Carolina, not only supported the Kennedy-McCain Amnesty Bill, but also supports the expansion of the war.

And, he has not been in the least interested in why the other Senator Graham was sharing a meal with a man that the mainstream media reported financed the killing of 3,000 Americans...In fact, no one, in either party had the temerity to disrupt the quiet dignity of the Senate with such questions.

These are two Graham crackers the Senate and the nation could well do without. As a matter of fact, this is a Senate, the nation could well do without.

[infidel_us]

Bedwetting libs are sooooo predictable. All the democrap senators voted for the guy. Now they want to stab him in the back (like they do the rest of us) all for the sake of politics and acquiring the white house.

Just disgusting. THe textbook definition of PATHETIC!

[marcodele]

"Stay the course!" (until negotiations with Halliburton finally goes their way.)

There just never seems to be enough bloodshed to satisfy the compassionate christian conservative republicans.

[infidel_us]

Time for Congress and the President to start paying attention to the people of this country.
Posted by omega39 at 10:50 AM : Sep 10, 2007

They do. You don''t see them trying to pass another amnesty bill, do you? Even one LaRasa didn''t write. And your statistics are skewed and flawed.

[roger_inkart]

The White House pulled out all the stops trying to sell the surge to the US. Apart from about 5% of the US population that fell for the propaganda little has changed in the perception of where we stand in the war in Iraq.

Total an ABC poll shows that clearly the quality of daily life is disintergrating for average Iraqis. Six in 10, say security in the country overall has worsened since the surge began.

But this was never about actually acheiving the supposed goals of the surge, it was about selling it to the American public, and giving the deluded 28% who still support this insanity something to cling to.

[briannorwood]

I''m a democrat who like alot of folks, doesn''t have a clue as to whether the surge is working or not. Sadly, no one in this administration has any credibility left, after all the happy talk over the last 5 years.

I mean, come on. At the bottom of it, what we''re hearing is that the surge (which, though announced in January, seems to have a starting time of late July) is working.

Great. What the heck were these people doing before that? Picking daisies?

So, now were stuck with no options. A fine place to be.

Like I said, I don''t know what we should do. All I know is that the incompetent moron George W. got us here.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISMS:



"I think -- tide turning -- see, as I remember -- I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of -- it''s easy to see a tide turn -- did I say those words?" --asked if the tide was turning in Iraq, Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006



"I will not withdraw, even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me." --talking to key Republicans about Iraq, as quoted by Bob Woodward

[oakishpines]

'' ... i''ve got alot of dare and shock and awe in the school houses, wars rape and kill alot of babies and small children, and i figure about now i''ve got just about every 50th or 200th *** in the nation raped up inside about every 5th or 10th *** ... and then there''s the ray guns ... ''

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:



"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." --interview with CBS News'' Katie Couric, Sept. 6, 2006

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:



"I would say the best moment of my Presidency was when I caught a 7.5 pound largemouth bass in my lake." --on his best moment in office, interview with the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, May 7, 2006


I would have to agree with him here. This is quite a legacy. Perhaps we can build a monument to this fish in Washington.

[drummer94]

posted by infantile,er,oakishp,er,whatever. Substitute cons for libs and ya nailed it.

[bareemperor]

Onward Christian Soldiers?

You born-agains are slaughtering Muslems in the name of Bu$h.

Again. Disgusting.

[infidel_us]

There just never seems to be enough bloodshed to satisfy the compassionate christian conservative republicans.
Posted by marcodele at 11:17 AM : Sep 10, 2007

From the leftwing pro abortion crowd. You got a lot of nerve and a lot of room to be ''pontificating from on high''.....you self righteous little t u r ds.

[roger_inkart]

Further proof of the failure of the "Surge"

65 to 70 percent of Iraqis say it''s worsened rather than improved security, political stability and the pace of redevelopment alike.

ABC News/BBC/NHK National Survey

And we all know virtually nothing has been done as far a "policital reconciliation" and that the Iraqi government is rife with corruption. Furthermore, we are arming Sunni Militia who may one day turn on the Iraqi government.

The White House has NO credibility when it comes to Iraq. Petraeus appears to be little more then a Bush lackey, so nothing he says will be taken seriously.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:


"Give my chance a plan to work." --George W. Bush, in an interview with Charlie Rose, April 24, 2007

[jerr11]

Bush, the DECIDER has already decided that he would keep the war going until he leaves office.

And the poor suck-r who replaces him will forever be known to history as the guy who lost the war in Iraq.

One we''ve come to expect from this great DECIDER!

And it gives his buddies over at Halliburton another year to loot and plunder the American treasury, "reconstructing" Iraq!

Brilliant strategy!

Heckuva job!

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:


"The solution to Iraq -- an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself -- is more than a military mission. Precisely the reason why I sent more troops into Baghdad." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 3, 2007

[mudrose-2009]

'''' ... i''''ve got alot of dare and shock and awe in the school houses, wars rape and kill alot of babies and small children, and i figure about now i''''ve got just about every 50th or 200th *** in the nation raped up inside about every 5th or 10th *** ... and then there''''s the ray guns ... ''''
Posted by oakishpines

Yeah, why don''t you go see redacted or whatever else Hollywood spews forth. ******** on the military are ya? That''s how the Dimnowits care for the troops.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:


"And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I''m sorry it''s the case, and I''ll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, interview on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007

[mudrose-2009]

The White House has NO credibility when it comes to Iraq. Petraeus appears to be little more then a Bush lackey, so nothing he says will be taken seriously.
Posted by roger_inkart

Yeah, and the Dimnowits love lackeys like you who believe it advantageous to lose in the ME. Why I''ll bet tomorrow all of you will be ranting once again as to how Bush et al, bombed the WTC. Smelly bunch of traitors ever last one of you. Let''s here the Dimnowits rave We Lost The War! Creeps.

[infidel_us]

What you pathetic libs fail to understand is, even if a democrap gets elected president, they will STILL remain in Iraq. Even Hillary knows you can''t just cut and run. So quit your sniviling and whining.

[liberalme]

Terrorists have been in existance since the beginning of time--what in the world makes Bush think we can "win a war on terror"?

They''re in every country--we don''t know who they are!

Bush needs to invade every country in the world to "win" the war on terror!! The idiot!

No one will ever win that war--there will always be terrorists.
Get the hell out of Iraq and work on securing our own boarders!

[micma-2009]

BUSHISMS:



"Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 2006


"I will not withdraw, even if Laura and Barney(the dog)are the only ones supporting me." --George W. Bush, talking to key Republicans about Iraq, as quoted by Bob Woodward

[micma-2009]

BUSHISMS:



"Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 2006


"I will not withdraw, even if Laura and Barney(the dog)are the only ones supporting me." --George W. Bush, talking to key Republicans about Iraq, as quoted by Bob Woodward

[roger_inkart]

"This is independent testimony being prepared by two career professionals," said spokesman Tony Snow.

Oh, come on. "Independent" ya say? Retire already Tony, your blatant lies are no longer amusing, they''re just sad.

[mudrose-2009]

So Harry thinks the war is lost. Today anyway. But just three days ago Reid was still talking about giving the troops a %u201Cstrategy for success%u201D and giving the troops %u201Cevery penny%u201D they need.

Which is it? Are we going to try to be successful in Iraq or are we just going to give up and come home?

I think the answer for the Democrats is %u201Cneither.%u201D They aren%u2019t interested in trying to win the war in Iraq (as evidenced by Harry%u2019s declaration of defeat above) nor are they interested in withdrawing gracefully. Which is why they aren%u2019t framing their withdrawal calls in the context of %u201Cwe%u2019ve accomplished what we can now it%u2019s time to come home%u201D rhetoric.

The Democrats want nothing less than a full-scale defeat and embarrassment for the President in Iraq, because that%u2019s what will help them the most politically. They want that, and they don%u2019t care how many troops have to die to get it, now or in the future.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:



"I think -- tide turning -- see, as I remember -- I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of -- it''s easy to see a tide turn -- did I say those words?" --George W. Bush, asked if the tide was turning in Iraq, Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

[mudrose-2009]

So Harry thinks the war is lost. Today anyway. But just three days ago Reid was still talking about giving the troops a %u201Cstrategy for success%u201D and giving the troops %u201Cevery penny%u201D they need.

Which is it? Are we going to try to be successful in Iraq or are we just going to give up and come home?

I think the answer for the Democrats is %u201Cneither.%u201D They aren%u2019t interested in trying to win the war in Iraq (as evidenced by Harry%u2019s declaration of defeat above) nor are they interested in withdrawing gracefully. Which is why they aren%u2019t framing their withdrawal calls in the context of %u201Cwe%u2019ve accomplished what we can now it%u2019s time to come home%u201D rhetoric.

The Democrats want nothing less than a full-scale defeat and embarrassment for the President in Iraq, because that%u2019s what will help them the most politically. They want that, and they don%u2019t care how many troops have to die to get it.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:




"No question that the enemy has tried to spread sectarian violence. They use violence as a tool to do that." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 22, 2006

[jerr11]

We had a distinguished General who went before the country and gave us a bunch of cooked facts and figures and led us into the war.

Now we have another distinguished General who''s coming in front of the country with another set of cooked facts and figures to keep us in that war.

Where is Alberto "the Liar" Gonzalez when we need him?

[mudrose-2009]

So Harry thinks the war is lost. Today anyway. But just three days ago Reid was still talking about giving the troops a %u201Cstrategy for success%u201D and giving the troops %u201Cevery penny%u201D they need.

Which is it? Are we going to try to be successful in Iraq or are we just going to give up and come home?

I think the answer for the Democrats is %u201Cneither.%u201D They aren%u2019t interested in trying to win the war in Iraq (as evidenced by Harry%u2019s declaration of defeat above) nor are they interested in withdrawing gracefully. Which is why they aren%u2019t framing their withdrawal calls in the context of %u201Cwe%u2019ve accomplished what we can now it%u2019s time to come home%u201D rhetoric.

The Democrats want nothing less than a full-scale defeat and embarrassment for the President in Iraq, because that%u2019s what will help them the most politically. They want that, and they don%u2019t care how many troops have to die to get it.

Posted by jerr11

The only thing that''s crooked is your thinking.

[xlib]

The leader of the democratic party, george soros, is now going after Gen. Petraeus. The same guy who set up moveon.org, mediamatters and sole owner of the democratic party.
What this says to me is that the left is obviously worried about the report. BUT, the media will spin it any way they can to keep defeat within our grasps.
Our son is now in Iraq and the first email we got from him was that the media is definetly not reporting what is going on correctly. Mind you, it''s not great because, hey, it is war but it is in no way as horrible as your media reports. The absolute disdain the American military feels for the media is very strong.
So, spin any way you want. The next binLaden tape should give the left some good pointers. Maybe he won''t holler at you guys as much this time around.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:




"I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young, I liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was president, and I like them during president, and I like them after president." --George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2006

[xlib]

jer11-didn''t congress approve Gen Petraeous and his plan before it was enacted?? Maybe the left is going to rewrite that fact also. Wasn''t congress advised what the plan was and approved it?
Maybe they approved before they disapproved, could be.
''

[jerr11]

The only thing that''''s crooked is your thinking.

Posted by mudrose at 11:50 AM : Sep 10, 2007


Cooked, I said cooked, not crooked.

[hillaryin08]

Hey Liberals guess what?

We are not leaving Iraq or Afghanistan until after Hillary''s Crowning as queen bee in 09.

Deal with it!

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:




"As you can possibly see, I have an injury myself -- not here at the hospital, but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. The cedar gave me a little scratch. As a matter of fact, the Colonel asked if I needed first aid when she first saw me. I was able to avoid any major surgical operations here, but thanks for your compassion, Colonel." --George W. Bush, after visiting with wounded veterans from the Amputee Care Center of Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 1, 2006

[glossypan]

Teddy Roosevelt did it! Tom Tancredo did not get a chance to serve in Nam; stress related anxiety. It is easy to see he has solved any problems he had in his head. Maybe Tommy could gather a volunteer brigade to smite those pesky Iraqis who think they are defending their homeland against foreign oppression. From what I hear in this forum, he would have no problem raising a group of Americans to defend against the threats against our freedom in Iraq. You could bring your own horses.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:


"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." --George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 (Listen to audio)

[lars008-2009]

the war is legal... the demonic-rat al bore says it is so... lol

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement.....

blame saddam for iraq%u2026%u2026. Even clintoon and the dems wanted the resumption of hostilities back in 1998

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq''s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

Moreover, no international law can prevent the United States from taking actions to protect its vital interests, when it is manifestly clear that there is a choice to be made between law and survival. I believe, however, that such a choice is not presented in the case of Iraq. Indeed, should we decide to proceed, that action can be justified within the framework of international law rather than outside it. In fact, though a new UN resolution may be helpful in building international consensus, the existing resolutions from 1991 are sufficient from a legal standpoint. - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

[bareemperor]

Shame on America. Yet another tide of red over lies. Pentagoons pleasing their bo$$. What kind of ''report dod you expect from General BetrayUS?

This really smells like the Crusades, Part II.

[micma-2009]

BUSHISM:


"It''s in our country''s interests to find those who would do harm to us and get them out of harm''s way." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 28, 2005

[mudrose-2009]

Notice how the Dimnowits support the troops? Look at how they denigrate a General. We support the troops. My azz they support the troops, the only thing they support is DEFEAT.