I've watched a pretty good chunk of the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus, on the military situation in Iraq.
At times during the testimony, I've been persuaded by the sheer intelligence and nobility and honesty of this man, who is explaining in a molecular way how the U.S. is going about fighting, and in some cases, co-opting the insurgency. You almost want to say: With a man this broadly competent in charge, how could we not give this thing one more year to work?
But as the dust settles, I find myself seeing in Petraeus many business colleagues I've worked with: Good people who have known they were up against an impossible project but were putting forth their very best human effort anyway—focusing on the little progress they could make, necessarily ignoring the miles between the doable and the goal.
I admire Petraeus more than I admire any of the senators who grilled him this week—most of whom couldn't help but express their own admiration.
This morning I am sure of one thing: If only all American politicians and our citizens had as much intellectual integrity and operated with as much sobriety and communicated with as much clarity as David Petraeus, this brilliant leader and his fine soldiers would not be ensnared in this unbelievable situation in the first place.
Comments (6)
Amen, David, amen.
Posted by Glynn Young | September 12, 2007 9:51 AM
Posted on September 12, 2007 09:51
Ack!
Of course David Petraeus and all the troops who serve under him are brave--they sign-up to get shot at everyday.
This unjust war has been mishandled from the very start (as everyone knows). Bush, in frightening Stalin style, pushed aside every general who disagreed with him until he found the ones that wouldn't. And guess what Petraeus is?
Yes, I listened to much of his testimony on the radio, and yes he sounds intelligent and he's a concise communicator, but nobile and honest? He can't predict what Iraq will be like with us there in six months time, but he CAN predict what Iraq will be like WITHOUT us there in six months time. And how curious that what the president has been saying all summer reflects what Petraeus said last week.
It's a fix, David. And the whole thing stinks. I'm with MoveOn.org on this one.
The only place our opinions converge, David, is that I'd like to see Petraeus use his U.S. Army karate moves on almost every U.S. Congressman (particularly the Democrats). The Dems deserve it for their spinelessness more so than the Republicans for their blind Patriotism.
And to be clear, I do "support the troops." Everyone in this country "supports the troops." And I'm not saying that from some distant liberal viewpoint. My bestfriend went to the Naval Academy. I communicate with these Marines and sailors. When they come to town we go out for drinks. My oldest friend is a Navy SEAL.
They're all officers and after a few beers they all agree that the War in Iraq is--pardon my French, remember I'm quoting sailors--"completely fucked." And most importantly, we're ignoring the real foreign threats to this nation, which aren't in Iraq.
Posted by Michael | September 17, 2007 1:03 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 13:03
Well, Michael, it doesn't matter whose read on Petraeus is right and whose is wrong. Bottom line is "completely fucked," something that Petraeus' testimony brought home for me more than it contradicted.
The question is, what's next? And nobody I know knows the answer. Do your officer friends?
Posted by David Murray | September 17, 2007 2:49 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 14:49
Good question, David. And one they don't attempt to answer until several drinks later, which is when my opinion diverges from theirs, because it's usually to the effect of "turn the place into a parking lot."
Eloquent communicators, I know.
Posted by Michael | September 17, 2007 3:26 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 15:26
Yes, I have an Air Force pal who despite having a one-year-old girl, just can't wait to go over there use his jet fighter-bomber to "blow up some fuckin' Iraqis."
Glad he's there. I don't begrudge him his point of view, which has been forged in fire. I don't want him formulating policy, though.
Posted by David Murray | September 17, 2007 3:32 PM
Posted on September 17, 2007 15:32
Well look at that! This is a blogosphere case study. Six posts in and we went from opposing opinions to agreement. If only we had avatars so I could pat both of us on the back.
Posted by Michael | September 18, 2007 10:37 AM
Posted on September 18, 2007 10:37