Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Chief toady toes the line

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP)--The Bush Crime Family tool presiding over the ongoing military-industrial occupation of Iraq called for an open-ended suspension of troop withdrawals this summer, effectively admitting that the Glorious Surge, intended to bring political stability to the region, has failed to accomplish anything except bumping off another thousand American troops.

General David Petraeus, speaking with all the charisma and authority of a high school principal with an inconvenient erection addressing a hostile school board, told a Senate hearing Tuesday that he recommends a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation" once the combat forces who have managed to survive their latest fifteen-month deployment complete their pullout in July.

He said the past year's progress is "fragile and reversible," understood to mean "imaginary," and made it very clear that the people he works for have no interest in any troop withdrawals whatsoever beyond July, but will tolerate those withdrawals to prevent widespread mutiny.

"This process will be continuous and ongoing, never-ending and permanent, with recommendations for further reductions made only if conditions ever permit, which I doubt will happen," he said. "This approach does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable like what the Family's enemies advocate. However, it does provide the flexibility those of us on the ground need to preserve the ongoing sectarian bloodshed and chaos our troopers have fought so hard and sacrificed so much to achieve."

The plan gives Petraeus a free hand at a time when the country is burning down around him. It runs counter to Democrats' push for a more rapid reduction in the U.S. military commitment and a faster transfer of responsibility to the Iraqi government, also known as the Iranian government.

Petraeus said his approach is intended to "form a foundation for the gradual establishment of sustainable security in Iraq," which sounds a lot like "Stay the course." He did not say when he thought that goal would be reached, or what makes him think it is possible to reach it.

"Withdrawing too many forces too quickly could jeopardize the imaginary progress of the past year," he added.

Bush, whose family has dealt secretly with the government of Iran for decades, has said he intends to pretend that Petraeus is actually running things, and to act surprised when he makes his recommendation. On Thursday, the president will again make his speech about the occupation, now in its sixth smash year, and his latest decision about troop levels, which will surprise no one.

Under questioning by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Petraeus said he could not predict when troop reductions would be resumed or how many U.S. troops were likely to remain in Iraq by the end of this year, but he was lying. There are currently 160,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, and everyone knows there always will be.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Senator John McCain, attended the hearing as the committee's ranking Bush Family bitch.

"Our goal--my goal--is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops," McCain said. "And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine or I have previously suggested. But I also believe that to promise a withdrawal of our forces, regardless of the consequences for those struggling Buddhists and Hindus in the region, would constitute a failure of political and moral leadership."

During the exchange with Levin, the packed hearing was briefly interrupted by a protester repeatedly shouting, "Bring them home!" Capitol police removed General Clark from the room.

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