Obama Confronts Petraeus And Crocker
It needs to be said that Barack Obama made some pretty solid points when questioning General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker today -- points that are probably on the minds of many people.
First Obama pointed out the absurdity of the hearing being held around September 11:
"I think we should not have had this discussion on 9/11, or 9/10 or 9/12. Because I think it perpetuates this notion that somehow the original decision to go into Iraq was directly related to the attacks on 9/11."
Obama also made this rather salient point:
"It is not clear to me that the primary success you've pointed to, in Anbar, has anything to do with the surge."
The best moment, though, might have been when he asked what exactly has to happen for us to withdraw from Iraq:
"If we're there the same place a year from now can you please describe for me any circumstances in which you would make a different recommendation and suggest it is now time for us to start withdrawing our troops? Any scenario. Any set of benchmarks, that have not been met."
At this point, Crocker hemmed and hawed a bit -- after all, it's a tough question. But alas, when Obama tried to press him for specifics, Joe Biden stepped in and, as a senior Senator, basically bailed Crocker out by saying that they were running out of time.
As the Senate turns.
Oh, and Hillary's coming up soon. Stay with us.
Comments (14)
Keith wrote on September 11, 2007 2:42 PM:I thought that was a petty move by Biden; but he wanted to save himself that last five minute to pontificate a little more.
Mark F wrote on September 11, 2007 2:53 PM:Yeah, it's unfortunate that Biden has a vested interest in making sure that Obama doesn't come off looking like the hero in all this. Too bad campaign politics trumps what's good for America in this case. Biden probably should have recused himself from chairing this one.
Greg wrote on September 11, 2007 3:05 PM:yeah, all in all, a rather dispiriting spectacle...
NCSteve wrote on September 11, 2007 3:12 PM:Not for nothing has the D.C. press corp joked for years that the most dangerous place to be in the world was between Joe Biden and a TV camera. And that was before Biden and the guy between him and the camera were both running for President.
10:1 he won't pull this on Hillary, tho.
Legalize wrote on September 11, 2007 3:25 PM:I think Obama landed enough blows to make the point, and there will be scrutiny of the exchange on the bobble-head shows, so he'll get coverage. And it's pretty difficult to claim that his questining was "unserious" or whatever the hell Bill Kristol is barking these days - which of course doesn't mean that the usual nit-wits won't try.
JackD wrote on September 11, 2007 3:51 PM:Obama's comments were actually a pretty effective lead in to the Iraq policy speech he is scheduled to give tomorrow. Biden won't be able to interrupt that.
EricD wrote on September 11, 2007 4:00 PM:The whole hearing was a joke. 5 minutes to ask questions? Why should the witnesses have to give essentially the same opening statements they already gave? This should have been done previously. Anyway, the hearings are much like the debates. Sound bite heaven. I particularly liked Boxer the best, followed by Feingold. Biden was cutting off everyone, not just Obama, because there was not enough time overall. Obama needs to get his point out faster so as to leave time for his questions. This is not like the debates in which he takes more time than anyone else, nor is he entitled to get more time than the others.
CalD wrote on September 11, 2007 4:21 PM:Didn't the law kind of require the president's report to be delivered to congress by 9/15?
bob wrote on September 11, 2007 5:45 PM:They should have extended the hearings about 5x as long in order to get real answers and get to the bottom of everything.
DonnaG wrote on September 11, 2007 8:52 PM:I just watched the video clip of Obama's remarks at the hearing. Once again I am really impressed with Barack Obama's perspective, grasp of the issues, and ability to cleanly articulate salient points. Too, I think the facial expressions of both Petreaus and Crocker reflected their recognition of Obama's high intelligence. He had their attention. Note Petreaus' note taking on Obama's points.
):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9wtAqXq7Sg
Thanks for the link Donna
They also had a clip of HRClinton and she said exactly nothing while acting in concert with Biden.
Geez, this inside the beltway pats on the back is simply nauseating the way it eats up time and accomplishes nothing.
John McCutchen wrote on September 11, 2007 10:32 PM:It took Hillary from 2002 to 2006 to figure out that Bush had scammed her (Madeline Albright 2007). Now we're paying the price
Juan Colke a few months back at the start of "the [18+ month] Surge" insisted that representatives ask the simple question "What is the mission?"
Sen Warner did today
Free At Last
one of the most influential Republicans on national security matters, asked Petraeus if his recommendations would make America safer. Petraeus initially evaded a direct answer, saying:
Sen. John Warner of Virginia ,
"Sir, I believe that this is indeed the best course of action to achieve our objectives in Iraq ."
Warner asked again.
"Sir, I don't know actually," Petraeus said. "I have not sat down and sorted out in my own mind. What I have focused on and been riveted on is how to accomplish the mission of the Multinational Force-Iraq."
Sen Obama - Petraeus/Crocker Hearing YouTube
civicforum wrote on September 12, 2007 9:36 AM:IMHO, Obama gave by far the best "narrative" of the Iraq fiasco in a manner that converts brilliantly to kitchen table talk. We need to have a change agent who is truly rational, truthful, thoughtful and engaged in the greater good of all of America. As an independent, I appreciate Obama's keen intellect and keen sense of what makes unity vital - he seems to be in it for US and not just for his own power strokes.
OTOH, it was truly painful to witness the total numbnuts effect of an Evan Bayh who managed to fudge up the best free lunch Petraeus delivered in answer to Sen. Warner - so much for picnics in Indiana for that guy.
