Dishonest Iraq Report?
EmailABC News’ Jake Tapper and Jon Garcia report: A top Democrat on Capitol Hill suggested the September Iraq Report, often touted by President Bush, will not be an honest assessment of the status of the war in Iraq.
"Sadly, we will only receive a snapshot from the same people who told us the mission was accomplished and the insurgency was in its last throes," read a statement released Wednesday by House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.
""After years of slogans and soundbites Americans deserve an even-handed assessment of conditions in Iraq. We’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars and lost thousands of lives in Iraq. An honest report from our generals and diplomats about the status of the war isn’t too much to ask," read Emanuel’s statement.
Emmanuel was reacting to a story in the Wednesday Los Angeles Times that read: "Despite Bush’s repeated statements that the report will reflect evaluations by Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, administration officials said it would actually be written by the White House, with inputs from officials throughout the government."
The White House responded to Emanuel’s statement Wednesday, arguing the report will have input from the U.S. military and diplomatic leaders on the ground in Iraq before it is submitted to Congress.
"It’s unfortunate that someone would impugn the reputations of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker," deputy White House secretary Dana Perino told ABC News. "We are confident these men of incredible integrity will speak as candidly to the members of congress as they do to the president, just as they did in July for that report."
"If you read the legislation, it sets out clearly how this works, which means input from [Defense Secretary Robert] Gates, [State Department Secretary Condoleezza] Rice, [U.S. Mideast Commander Admiral William] Fallon, [U.S. Military Commander in Iraq General David ]Petraeus and [U.S. Ambassador in Iraq Ryan] Crocker, then the President submits it, after Petraeus and Crocker testify," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesperson for the National Security Council.
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And the Democratic spin begins with the aid of the MSM.
Posted by: what? | August 15, 2007, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
Unbelieveable. Congress ask the Whitehouse for this report and they are going to supply it. Who else is suppose to write this report?
The Democrats have time and again blown off and not attended briefings by Gen. Petraeus or at ones they were at said they don’t believe his statements so why should they care?
Posted by: Jeff | August 15, 2007, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
I’m going to go way out on a limb here and suggest that many things that “top Democrats on Capitol Hill” say in the next, oh, fifteen months or so won’t be completely honest either.
Posted by: Dave | August 15, 2007, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
Yeah, the WH does what it’s supposed to, and the Dhims refuse to believe it. After all, they have their willing allies at ABCNBCCBSNYTLATCNNMSNBC to do thier bidding.
Posted by: jdawg | August 15, 2007, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
Whatever the report says, VP Cheney was right in 1994
Posted by: kishor | August 15, 2007, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
Looks like we have the last few 22% diehards posting here. Must be lonely being among the last people in America still defending the endless incompetence, failure, and corruption of the Bush administration. Now take your medicine and let the orderlies put you to bed. Good night, diehards.
Posted by: wilder5121 | August 15, 2007, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
What’s good for America is what’s bad for the Democrats. The comments here reinforce that.
Posted by: p0s3r | August 16, 2007, 2:50 am 2:50 am
What’s bad for America is what’s good for the Republicans. The comments here reinforce that.
Posted by: wilder5121 | August 16, 2007, 3:24 am 3:24 am
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
Ron Paul has gotten more financial contributions from THE TROOPS than any other Candidate.
Most of the feedback I’ve gotten from American soldiers in Iraq leads me to conclude that they want out of there!
Bring our brave soldiers home, alive!
Posted by: Bob Dylan | August 16, 2007, 4:06 am 4:06 am
Are there really just some people who don’t mind being lied to by their duly elected government. You really like paying someone to lie to your face, over and over and over again?
Posted by: dgra123 | August 16, 2007, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Did anyone really expect the Bush clan to tell the truth?
Posted by: jason c | August 16, 2007, 9:47 am 9:47 am
The report will be politically controlled, of course.
One of the reasons it will be “delayed”, is that any wording not to the adminstration’s liking, will have to be changed, before it is submitted.
Don’t look for anything different from the Dems, either.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | August 16, 2007, 10:11 am 10:11 am
Why are we looking to defend ourselves from our own military leaders? Can a prejudiced statement like this possibly serve a good purpose? This is a big mistake by Rahm Emmanuel. The criticism needs to be directed at Bush, not General Petraeus. Prejudice does no one any good. This is dumb. Rahm Emmanuel needs to explain himself.
Posted by: Sean O'Brien | August 16, 2007, 10:13 am 10:13 am
If this administration has anything to do with this report from General Petraeus, then I believe it will be the same spin that has been used time and time again. Wake up America!
Posted by: Concerned American | August 16, 2007, 11:27 am 11:27 am
Why should Bush change course now? Keep up the lies. Too late now to be a good leader. The smart people are on to him now anyway.
Posted by: Ron | August 16, 2007, 11:31 am 11:31 am
Anyone knows if you appoint someone (Patraeus) to an office or position this person is not going to turn around report something negative that affects your interests. Common sense. Fox in the henhouse common sense!
Posted by: Mike | August 16, 2007, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Apparently the White House , Bush, Cheney and all, have a deep dark mistrust for General Petraeus. Maybe it’s that last name. It’s time for Rove to slime him.
Posted by: US Citizen | August 16, 2007, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
The Bush White House’s mantra is probably, “don’t betray us General Petraeus.” So they won’t give it a chance that the general may say something the American people should hear. The White House political hacks will write the report instead, and they’ll try to make it look like it came from Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. In summation: more Bush deception.
Posted by: Frank | August 16, 2007, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
For those die-hards that are commenting on the White House doing their job and the dems being upset, please review the statements of the president which said that he nor the White House would write the report and that it would come from the generals on the ground. Apparently, everyone has forgotten what the “leader” has said. Just ask and I will post quotes…
Posted by: mouse | August 16, 2007, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
With a pathetic 14% congressional approval rating, the Democrats are poised to trash Petraeus. And who can blame them? They’ve already trashed themselves.
Posted by: Chas | August 16, 2007, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm
Let’s face it; if it comes out of this White House, it will be of no value because this White House has zero credibility left. Not even as good as the paper it is written on because it will be white-washed and twisted to suit the agenda of this ridiculous administration. Mr. Bush, don’t even bother because we know what you are.
Posted by: DaveM | August 16, 2007, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
By the way, Chas, that 14% approval rating for Congress includes those miserable obstructionist Republicans who are unable or unwilling to do the thing and end this farce of an administration and start paying heed to what their constituents and the rest of the country want. 2008 should be interesting.
Posted by: DaveM | August 16, 2007, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Why give a report…none of the congress wants to here it though they voted for it…kind of like a lot of things they do…my gracious, suppose this fellow wins the war, do not expect a victory parade in Washington DC. Reminds me of the glee when General Douglas MacArthur was planning the landing at Inchon known as Operation Chromite…the President and the Congress conspired to fire him if it failed, and were unhappy with its success which broke the back of the Chinese Army. Only in Washington do we hope for failure, and plan to lose.
Posted by: LibSlayer | August 16, 2007, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
What ever happened to “trust the generals”…
Posted by: Sinep | August 16, 2007, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
OUT OF THE SWAMP IN 2006 AND THE DEMS ARE GOING BACK INTO THE SWAMP IN THE NEXT ELECTION FOLKS. EVERY 13 YEAR OLD KID MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS A REPUBLICAN. THE FUTURE IS BLEAD FOR DEMOCRATS. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT POLITICS WAS WHEN I WAS 13. NOW THE ONLY ONES THAT DO KNOW POLITICS KID CONSERVATIVES.
Posted by: Dan Feerst | August 16, 2007, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Democrats want defeat in Iraq before the 08 elections to use it to get votes. Democrats want the economy flshed down the toilet before the 08 elections to get votes. We have terrorist wanting to come to the US and kills us, Iran wants a nuke to ship them to the US over our border or in a ship. The Chines are raping us on unfair trade and monetary policies.
All the Democrats want to do is have endless investigations about Bush. Where are the Democrats head stuck?
Posted by: JohnW | August 18, 2007, 10:10 am 10:10 am
If we as Americans can die for this Country, pay Taxes to pay the politicians, suffer under mismanagement of our resources, see our children growing to old to quick before our eyes, feel the anger, and helplessness and still hold the line. I think we are big enough to hear the truth. I have not seen anyone in charge yet, that is capable of singular, sound judgment, this is a Government for and by THE PEOPLE, everybody. I have no use for party lines, the divide and conquer
Posted by: collard gruene | August 18, 2007, 11:21 am 11:21 am
The Bush mantra: Never admit you are wrong, never admit failure, never admit defeat, never let the truth be known, and never, ever, bow to the will of the American people.
Posted by: James H. | August 18, 2007, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Come on, the white house is going to do the report. Not like they haven’t lied in the past or anything.
Posted by: david | August 20, 2007, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Regarding Iraq situation, why blame to the Bush Administration. Who started the war? Bush did not started it.
How do we know if it is a dishonest report or not? Perhaps it is only making a story to get us upset towards Bush and his admin. or the general. We should always look on the bright side and focus on how we are going to make our country great again. Our country’s greatness depend on the people’s unity under God’s law where our constitutions were originally based on.
Posted by: ls | August 21, 2007, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm