Old Lines, New Location, Different Results? Senators can afford to spout conjecture, knowing the final decision is not theirs, nor the responsibility for the results. The differences between the 2007 partisan push against the Petraeus Plan, aka "The Surge," and the 2009 push against the McChrystal Plan are slight. The ones arguing against Supporting the General in 2009 also argued against Supporting the other General in 2007, but some of those in the 2007 camp have wised up. Others are sitting on the fence and some are using the same lines, disregarding even recent history. (Video Evidence follows):
Then Senator, now POTUS, on "The Surge:"
He was proven wrong, but not held accountable for being wrong. He campaigned on the mantra that Iraq was the wrong war, on the Slogan that Afghanistan was the "Just War." Iraq could still be lost. It could fall back into a state of siege by Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah, but violence remains lower than in 2007. The Petraeus Plan continues to afford us Sustained Success there, as Iraqis learn by trial and error what's required to maintain their own security.
See Senator Biden predict failure at 1:28 into this Senate Speech:
Ariana Huffington on Senator Biden on "The Surge" in Afghanistan:
Start at 2:30, continue at 5:00 as Sen Carl Levin demonstrates that his opposition to the Petraeus Plan, aka "The Surge" is an attempt to undermine the POTUS of a different party. On 2/25/2007, the Senator was calling for retreat, even as he recognizes that de-funding the Troops was purely wrong:
Politicians: Listen to the General On the Ground. Send him the resources he needs to do the job you sent him to do. Even Senator Feinstein has learned this lesson, perhaps because so many politicians got it wrong in 2007. Quit playing politics with the needs to win. Quit thinking that your air-conditioned offices afford you better knowlege of the Military than the blood, sweat and tears of Generals that are living the life on the ground following decades of experience and training.
General Petraeus did it in Iraq. General McChrystal is charged with doing it in Afghanistan. General Petraeus is General McChrystal's boss.
Stumble It!
