Cliff LyonPatraeus Betray Us? I Say TRAITOR!
Few people get the opportunity the Patraeus had to speak the truth and put an end to this sick political, economically motivated war which has killed at LEAST 750,000 Iraqis. Oh well. Fuck You Patraeus. You suck!
In case you missed it. Word has it, the phrase was first coined by troops serving in Iraq.
Problem is, the ad’s prediction was perfectly accurate.
Fact: President Bush’s credibility is almost gone. That’s why he’s remained in the background this week, and relied on General Petraeus to deliver the message that things are getting better. This works as long as people in Washington are afraid to question the General’s credibility.
September 21st, 2007 at 7:23 am
I think we have a situation where many Americans get their news from blogs, and the rest are not paying that much attention and rely on TV and newspapers. MoveOn.org should have targeted their newspaper ad at the second group, but instead it appeals to the first group. It was a rookie PR mistake, preaching to the choir. MoveOn ought to know better.
The Washington Post “fact-checked” the MoveOn ad, and concluded that neither the ad nor Petraeus told the unvarnished truth. This is the kind of artificial “balance” that passes for journalistic objectivity these days. Follow the link– you can add your own comment on the WaPo’s page.
Those of us who read blogs were already familiar with the “Betrayus” nickname and the fact that General Petraeus was lying to Congress. We know the history of Petraeus’ failures in pacifying Mosul (now one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq), and training the Iraqi Army (still ineffective and ill-equipped, three years after Petraeus claimed success). The Bush administration rewarded these failures with promotions. Petraeus’ latest failure was the ill-conceived plan to bring security to Iraq with five extra combat brigades, not enough for the job and more than we could afford to send.
What is probably most galling for soldiers to see is that Bronze Star ribbon Petraeus wears. It has a V for valor, which is supposed to be awarded only for acts of heroism in combat. Petraeus was never in combat before the invasion of Iraq, when he commanded the 101st Airborne Division and only came under fire (a single mortar round) once. Most civilians probably don’t realize it, but wearing that little V device on a ribbon brands Petraeus as a phony.
What happened yesterday, as 22 Democrats voted for a GOP-sponsored resolution to condemn a newspaper ad (and others ran for the exits like Obama and Biden)? How did this even get to the Senate floor? Over on HuffPo, Robert Borosage called them craven fools. That’s being polite. Ian Welsh says this happened because a lot of Dem politicians don’t like the netroots. Well, those politicians can be replaced.
September 21st, 2007 at 7:41 am
My take:…Health care is a mess
The economy (the dollar, housing etc)…an unmitigated mess
Levies, bridges, etc, ie the infrastructure…crumbling
Blackwater mercenaries glombing bookoo pallets of export $ and worse
The war…FUBAR (you guessed it)
Anything to do with methodology to fund or fix any of the above…totally screwed
And the senators screach and condemn a newspaper ad that is pretty much on target!
Is the United States senate a great insstitution? or what? Ya gotta love it. I mean you absolutely MUST revere it or there will be consequenses.
September 21st, 2007 at 10:54 am
The post and the first two comments are right on the money!
September 21st, 2007 at 12:48 pm
It reminds me of what the Bushies did to Colin Powell - when they were done any crediblity or respect he’d earned was shot down the tubes.
Will there be any trustworthy military leaders left by the time they’re done?
September 21st, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Cliff, if you liked the last MoveOn.org ad, wait to you see this one. Warning– this is satire, not real!
September 21st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Richard:
That MoveOn ad you directed us to may be satire, but this New York Times editorial is along the same lines and is real.
September 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm
This is satire.
Denver, Colorado Agenda for the 2008 Democratic National Convention
7:00 pm Opening flag burning
7:15 pm Pledge of Allegiance to the U.N. in Spanish
7:20 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
7:25 pm Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jessie Jackson & Al Sharpton
7:45 pm Ceremonial tree hugging
7:55 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:00 pm “How I Invented the Internet” - Al Gore
8:35 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:40 pm Our Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry
9:00 pm Saddam Memorial Rally - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
11:00 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:05 pm Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund - Barbara Streisand
11:15 pm Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay - Sean Penn
11:30 pm Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton
11:45 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:50 pm How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers - Howard Dean & Rosie O’Donnell
12:15 am “Truth in Broadcasting Award” - Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
12:25 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
12:30 am Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
12:45 am Nomination of Hilary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi
12:43 am Speech & Toast by Hugo Chavez to the departure of “the Great Satan”, G.W. Bush
12:50 am Hillary proposes a toast to our 89 million new Democratic Mexicans voters
1:00 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast to the extinction of the Republican Party
1:05 am Coronation of Hilary Rodham Clinton
1:30 am Ted Kennedy Proposes a toast
1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hilary home
September 21st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Not bad Moe. Did you make that up?