Even with the absence of an official congressional declaration of war, the U.S. Military has been tirelessly pouring its resources into the Middle East for four years now, and President Bush is holding the pitcher. And despite the possible promise of a troop reduction in the next year, we’re guessing not much is going to change any time soon.
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military official in Iraq, testified before the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday, where he made several recommendations toward the U.S. involvement in the Iraqi conflict. Petraeus called for a 2,000 member Marine unit to return from its tour of duty this month, beginning a gradual troop withdrawal that would bring around 30,000 troops home by next summer.
Next summer. That’s a year from now, and five years since U.S. soldiers have been fighting and dying in Iraq, and five years since the president began asking for more time and more troops to dedicate to his cause. Even when (and if) the 30,000 troops come home next July, it will still leave more than 130,000 U.S. soldiers fighting the battle that is wavering considerably low on the nation’s scale of approval.
Many Democratic lawmakers were visibly unsatisfied with Petraeus’s Iraqi report card, even after the general delivered a mini-laundry list of accomplishments. General, you’ve been there for four years. One would have hoped you’d have gotten something done. We were hoping you would be in the car on the way home already. Not still sitting at the bar, ordering another round.
An ad placed in Monday’s New York Times by the left-wing organization, MoveOn.org which read, “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” infuriated members of the Republican party, who felt it was a mean-spirited punch to the troops’ stomachs. A bit harsh, MoveOn. Did we really expect Petraeus to say anything negative about the progress in Iraq? Come on now, remember who his boss is.
He’s probably not scheming against the American people, but we’re not so sure we’re getting the whole truth. More openness and honesty would be nice, but we’re not going to hold our breath. Petraeus said he wrote his own testimony and that it was not checked over by anyone in the White House. Petraeus is like that kid with the kick-ass science fair project who claims his parents didn’t help him.
Since this country was founded, people have been asking their government to be honest with them. Maybe the four-star general seemed more trustworthy than the president, and that’s why he delivered yesterday’s testimony. General, don’t betray us, and keep your word, even if it isn’t the president’s.
