News flash: The surge has failed.
General David Petraeus wakes
up to reality.
Petraeus, who is preparing to testify to Congress next month on the Iraq
war, said in an interview that “no one” in the U.S. and
Iraqi governments “feels that there has been sufficient progress by any
means in the area of national reconciliation,” or in the provision of
basic public services. … ..
Clinton
to General Petraeus on September 11, 2007:
… .. But today you are testifying about the current status of our policy
in Iraq and the prospects of that policy. It is a policy that you have been
ordered to implement by the president. And you have been made the de facto
spokesmen for what many of us believe to be a failed policy.Despite what I view as your rather extraordinary efforts in your
testimony both yesterday and today, I think that the reports that you provide
to us really require the willing suspension of disbelief. … ..
Clinton again on 9/11/07, where she had this to say to Ambassador Crocker:
Ambassador, it’s not only the Iraqi government that, in my view, has failed
to pursue a coherent strategy. I think our own has as well.
Clinton got pilloried for her exchange with Petraeus in September. But her
willingness to talk truth to a respected military general is a window on restoring
where the decision making process lies in our democratic republic, regardless
of the important and required input, advice and counsel of our military leaders.
Strong civilian leadership is what will steer us out of the ditch in Iraq. Not
let’s make a deal strategy from someone who seems incapable of taking tough
stances on controversial issues, because he doesn’t like confrontations.
Truth
to power, baby. Another word for leadership.
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