from Think Progress
Mitchell: Petraeus Held Closed-Door Strategy Meeting With Republican Caucus
This morning on the Chris Matthews Show, NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell revealed that Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, met "very recently" with the Senate Republican caucus to discuss their strategy on Iraq legislation.
"Petraeus went to the Republican caucus and told them, I will have real progress to you by August," Mitchell said. The Republicans claim they told him that after August, they will end their support for the war. "They have told him at a caucus meeting as very, very recently, that if there isn’t progress by August — and real progress means not a day of violence and a day of sanity — that they will pull the plug."
What the hell is General Petraeus doing giving a closed door strategy hearing to the Republican Caucus?
One the one hand, I understand the need for military commanders to remain above politics; but what is the sewer the good General has vaulted himself into?
Thanks to Mike Malloy for pointing this out, right now on his show.
You can listen to Mike on KPHX or novamradio.com, every weeknight 9-12 Eastern time.
*Update:* One thing I like about Mike Malloy, he issued a clarification on air about this lack of being certain about Mitchell has said, as well. How often does one hear that on any other radio show.
Drudge, anyone? See any retractions there about Mike Ware?
Surprised I didn't see this covered here [my search skill set is pretty limited, so I hope I'm not duplicating an earlier effort].
Malloy is on top of things that just are not getting through, must listening for me, every night.
And Bob Fertig over at democrats.com has got it happening, big time.
http://www.democrats.com/...
ALL the right questions.
Terrified Republican Senators Set August Deadline for Iraq
Labor Day 2007 marks the beginning of the 2008 election campaign. And come Labor Day, the last thing in the world Republicans want hanging around their necks is the disastrous Iraq War.
So what will they do about it? Andrea Mitchell spilled the beans on Chris Matthews' show, and Think Progress has the video.
The Republicans were against the surge but they felt it was fait accompli, and that they were willing to give Petraeus until August. He told them there will be real progress by August. They have told him at a caucus meeting as very, very recently, that if there isn’t progress by August — and real progress means not a day of violence and a day of sanity — that they will pull the plug.
This revelation is so stunning it needs to be broken out piece by piece.
1. Republican Senators met alone with Gen. Petraeus. Is it common for commanders to meet with separately with a Congressional minority? Or is this just another example of the GOP putting raw partisan politics ahead of national security?
2. Republican Senators micromanaged Gen. Petraeus. Isn't this one of the absolute unbreakable Republican rules, practically handed down to Moses with the Ten Commandments - that politicians should never micromanage commanders?
3. Republican Senators set a deadline for Iraq. How many times have Bushco shrieked that a deadline guarantees the humiliating defeat of our forces and the victory of terrorists? Why do Republican Senators hate America and love the terrorists?
4. What exactly do Republicans mean when they say "pull the plug"? The Supplemental Appropriations bills approved by Democrats in the House and Senate both call for phased withdrawals over the next 12-18 months. Would Senate Republicans support a Democratic plan, or would they offer a plan to leave Iraq even sooner?
5. Given this Republican betrayal, why did Bush repeatedly attack Democrats in his weekly radio address? Is he unaware his fellow Republicans are planning to "pull the plug" on Iraq?
These would be excellent questions for the White House Press Corpse to ask Dana Peroxide, dontcha think?
update & clarification!: It's not clear if the transcript from ThinkProgress is the actual transcript from the show. I'm basing this on their statement. The transcript from the show is not up yet at MSNBC.
further update and potential BOGUS ALERT:
Some facts are hidden in there. It would be nice if we could expect the truth, unvarnished and clear, but here is the 'correction'.
Andrea Mitchell (sort of) issues a correction.
Complete op-ed:
http://www.salon.com/...
Salon.com’s Joan Walsh highlights a strange moment on tonight’s Hardball: "Without mentioning what had been discussed on Sunday, Matthews asked Mitchell, rather out of the blue, to talk about what Petraeus was telling senators. ‘It’s a good thing you bring that up,’ Mitchell replied, and she went on to say that Petraeus recently held a ‘closed circuit briefing’ for senators of both parties, ‘Democrats as well as Republicans.’ But Mitchell also repeated her claim from Sunday that ‘moderate Republican senators’ were privately saying they opposed Bush’s so-called troop surge, but would publicly support it out of respect for Petraeus, and give the general and the president until the summer to make progress in the war."
But even if 'some Democrats' were in on this closed door session, the statement from moderate Republicans that they will "cut and run" in August is huge, as the wheels have officially fallen of the Elephant Wagon.