Petraeus: "Haven't Seen Any Lights at the End of the Tunnel"

[eastariel]

"We fight for the right for people to have other opinions." ~ David Petraeus

If our opinions are purchased at such a dear price, I'll try to think more and talk less, in the hopes that my opinions will encourage less war and more peace in the world.

[vdjc85]

2:11...Owned! Big up Gen.Petraeus and his troops

[WashMitt]

If it was wrong to start its wrong to win.

Plain and simple.

[ed11561]

AND WE ALL KNOW IT WAS WRONG TO START

[zouritje]

gen Petraeus knows the war is useless obama too , mccains till a jewish puppet

[Morgoth295]

hes a soldier. he takes orders and completes them to the best of his ability. hes not a politician. if u want a lying bastard, point ur finger to bush's f'ed up administration.

[dinnerbucket9]

Vastly under reported was the generals answer, in front of a senate panel in September in 2007, to a question posed by Republican Senator Warner; ' Is the US safer becasue of the invasion of Iraq?" His answer ' I dont know'.

[F22RaptorAce]

Elect Petraeus '12

[8data]

Hes the man, never a dumb comment or inappropriate behavior to dishonor the fallen, what a leader!

[FeelFreeToArgue]

Here is what the General didn't (refused to) say: a person who disagrees with me can still be reasonable. He would only go so far as saying they're fighting for the rights of people to have differing opinions, but did not, would not admit that someone could disagree with him and still be reasonable. This is the kind of intellectually inflexible idealogue that survives and flourishes in the Bush administration. His contempt for the ideas of others mirrors those of his commander in chief.

[medman41]

If only we had more people like you in this country who can think critically. Very well written.

[tl267]

Mr. Bayh is one smart man.

[DrReaper]

Politican playing politics. Let the general lead. He has the more experence on the ground. Is there more than one apporach to Iraq? Sure. What does the constitution say? We are a constitutional republic right?

[eckyboyo]

Your President is removing your Constitutional rights without asking you though!

[WashMitt]

I fear American foreign policy way more than I fear phantom terrorists.

As far as China...its paying for "soldiers who protect your rights as an American"...not that Iraq has anthing to do with America rights.

[berkin1014]

What is a military industrial complex... Do you mean soldiers who protect your rights as an American? Or would you rather be in China having all your information sensored... by the government.  Geez...

[everthustotyrants]

Berkin1014: search for President Eisenhowers speech and listen to it. Search for the msnbc news story on the mexican army crossing our southern border repeatedly to defend drug runners and smugglers from American Border Control agents and American law enforcement. search for the video of american soldiers going door-to-door searching the homes of American citizens for weapons and then taking those weapons. Really watch the mainstream media in the USA and you'll see our own censorship.I dare ya

[kimintexas]

The military industrial complex doesn't want this war to end, its business and its big money.

[WashMitt]

Petraeus will go down in American history as a bigger traitor than Benedict Arnold.

[berkin1014]

General Petraeus is a highly respected soldier and leader... so I don't see how he can be labeled as a traitor... Benedict Arnold was denied a promotion by the Army and as he decided to give information to the enemy... So... how is he a traitor? Maybe you should look in the mirror.

[mixedgrain]

Can you elaborate?

[8data]

yeah, PhD Princeton, thirty years in the armed forces, distinction and decoration in the hardest battle of american civilization

what a traitor, what you doing now, joe six pac, youtubeing away

dont disgrace honor and history with your silly comments

[y2knoproblem]

That general is living in the 20th century. He still thinks we are fighting Nazi Germany and the empire of japan.

[8data]

can you name the provinces of Iraq and come up with counter insurgency strategy to deal with the longest running deadly conflict in us foreign policy history

now, can you buddy, i am waiting you have to command nearly two hundred thousand people and they are waiting for your orders

[dentistsugardusty]

what is up with all these couch potatoes with there tv remotes spoutin' off as if they're some type of uncanny skilled warriors. generals and military chiefs sitting back getting schooled by a hannity.... what the ***k! this mentality ditches you and you lose yourself in high wickedness trying to validate it with your holier than though pretend angel asses. i guess god really made man in his own image. all this unjustifiable death identifies with him so well

[dentistsugardusty]

they all appear so intelligent and willing to celebrate disaster.

[dentistsugardusty]

yeaH LET'S PARTY AND PRETEND there was something won here. who r these individuals we give attention 2? a drunk off the street could orchestrate just as equal a disaster. don't support by pretentious measures, if they did any of what they do over there, they'd probably b reprimanded. highly half skilled human killer 22yr olds. who would u want back n circulation, a prisoner or a bent mentalitied 22yr old who searches the "what was it all for" and who shuns disconnected civilian mind states?

[dentistsugardusty]

"if they did any of what they do over there, over here, they'd be reprimanded

[drzz7]

god damn democrats

[ed11561]

This fucking General doesn't know what the fuck he's doin in Iraq.Iraq is worse than VietNam in that there r 2 or 3 RELIGIOUS GROUPS that r fighting for the control of the fucking dust bowl and there will always be war in the fucking cesspool of a country.Namely Iran-iraq war-Isralei war-topling dictators-installing new ones.This place is a hellhole.America-make these fuckers go home before another 4000 die in this shit hole.Petraeus even says there is basically no hope.Listen up washington.

[8data]

it cant be won, but that doesnt mean he is not giving americas enemies a scare

there are just too many of them

valiant man, impossible victory

[Richardgwm]

McCain promises 100 years in Iraq.

McCain has promised to keep America in Iraq for 100 years.

McCain promises 100 years in Iraq.

[chicagoam1]

What amazes me at how even the Democrats have to bow to the General and laud him with praises and thanks for his service in this illegal occupation and unjustified war. They must be really afraid of the "unpatriotic" propaganda label the Right loves to use as a political hammer, especially in an election year. What the hell are they thanking him for? Paying off the murderers of U.S. servicemen to bribe them into a temporary respite?

Or for holding the bloodletting to a minimum until Jan. 2008?

[npete007]

Sen Evan Bayh is a ignorant fool. Being on a committe is nothing like serving in the military. I guess that's why he's sitting behind a desk interogating a highly decorated officer.

[bitherwack]

Sen. Bayh is doing his job, he is a professional just like Petraeus. Having been on the committee, he has been party to as much information as Petraeus. The law requires Peraeus report to Sen. Bayh, and Sen. Bayh's long experience with the obfuscations of the military has well qualified him for his position. Officers may be highly decorated, but so is every tyrant. This is a democracy, and Sen Bayh is defending that democracy from military abuse and fearmongering warprofiteers.

[bitherwack]

We are making great progress--in enriching war profiteers! Yes, progress in bankrupting the US. Progress in demonstrating to the world just how hypocritical we are in applying standards of fairness. We are progressing blithely into our own destruction-- at our own hands.

[MooseOfReason]

Didn't Lincoln warn us that we'd destroy ourselves?

[USAF1947]

Washington also warned against the political party.

[MooseOfReason]

That'd be great. A list of names on the ballot and we vote for people instead of parties.

[kwixotic]

Peatraeus can only "betray us" or "portray us" as militaristic idiots!!

[MooseOfReason]

I think that was enough analogies. I don't think he needed the "champagne bottle to the back of the refrigerator" one.

But he admitted that there is a champagne bottle. When do we open it?

[ed11561]

We open up the champagne when all our troops r home and the fucking Bush administration is thrown the fuck out of washington-as long as Hillary doesn't get in.

[JimboTHC]

I find it shameful the way republicans are hiding behind a general.

He has no business there defending policy and that is not his role in our democracy.

[jermey76]

I love how the lefty senators ask questions and then don't allow the general to finish his answer. Is this an election year or something?

[xxironballzxx]

most americans are retards and they'll believe i guy in a nice uniform with 4 stars!! and the only thing i hate more than lefty pussies is right-wing bible beat and southern repub. voting sheep

[peterucker]

None of the anti-war senators asked he right questions. Whether there's less violence in Iraq now compared to a year ago is irrelevant. The reason the General cannot give a timetable for withdrawal is that there is no such thing as winning in this war. Does the General ever talk about victory? The U.S. military never had a right nor reason to be there in the first place. To remain there is to continue the wrongs that have been committed. Withdrawing is not losing, but the beginning of healing.

[matttube777]

Iraq won't work as a unified country. It only stood together under represive rule such as Saddam's. The Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds hate each other for good reasons. A history of genocide, civil war. THE ANSWER IS NOT A UNIFIED IRAQUI ARMY. ITS NOT A UNIFIED IRAQ. IT'S SPLITTING THE COUNTRY INTO THREE. The Kurds have had their de-facto state for a long time, with their own army, and government. So should the Sunnis and Shiites. Iran has seen this comming right from the start. USA wake up-

[y2knoproblem]

"We fight for the right for people to have other opinions".... Since when was Iraq ever a threat to our National Security and Bill of Rights?

[codediporpal]

I think he meant in general, not specifically Iraq. If he meant Iraq, he's FOS. Never has Iraq been a threat to our Liberty, and any one who says it is is drinking way too much of the neocon koolaid.

[chunksloth]

That's the problem with the spineless Democrats.

[cheguevara1970]

What is?? That they want the troops to come back b/c they are getting killed b/c of oil & corporate welfare?? I don't even like Dems, at all, but your assessment of them is that of a un-educated monkey.

[alnewberry]

Humility? Come on, we're talking about government employees here. They've never heard the word.

[UTBESUX]

GOOGLE NO END IN SIGHT & watch that video. The entire movie is online & it goes into GREAT detail about how this war was waged. It's an amazing movie. It's important to get the facts about all this. The first thing Bush & co. did was protect the oil fields, not the people or their history which was destroyed by looting. The Bush administration has hijacked America and turned it into one HUGE corporate profit leaving ALL Americans out. Bush shouldn't even be considered an American! He's a FRAUD!

[ginnipadda1985]

Petraeus owned him with that last line....

[chunksloth]

That was a douchebag line.

Iraq no longer has anything to do with protecting American liberty. NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

Petraeus just threw that BS patriotic line out there because to score cheap political points.

[Wendy62]

Iraq never had anything to do with protecting American liberty. Saddam wasn't a threat to us, not even in 1991.

[fistnbone]

"Senator, we fight for the right of people to have other opinions"

Fuck you, dickhead. Unless you're talking about bombing the oppressive regime that runs the US, then I'd just as soon keep that shit holstered. I hate the way patriotism and soldier are used as emotional blackmail on dissent.

[jenniferann2]

I'ts all blowing up in our faces.

[lazlo5149]

The damage done to this country by the Bush administrations' policies, both the waging of this illegal war and the deregulation of the mortgage industries, will far outstrip any damage that a handful of terrorists could have hoped to inflict.

[crosshillchris]

Patreus is Bushe's boy he serves at Bushes pleasure and cannot openly disagree with Bushes policy.

[Gilliatt83]

B.S.

[gallomex13]

If our homes were being destroyed and our jobs had being lost, our loves ones were being killed everyday, I wonder if the war was right here at home would our leaders and our military leaders still call it success and progress. And one more question where is Bin Laden??? of curse he is going to say that Al Quaeda wants to fight in Iraq 'cause he is in Afghanistan. Honestly how much bullshit do we need to take???

[jimmyphack]

I dont know why anyone is in Iraq there is alot of countrys in afganistan and they still havent found the turban headed cocksucker.

[gallomex13]

hint: THEY ARE NOT LOOKING they already found the oil.

[schwirzl]

curveball one single criminal source for the mobile biological weapon laboratories. Nobody should run for president who accepted this in 2002.

[MrMP81]

The General in his remarks is no different than Dana Perino being in his seat. Both give such twisted and b.s. answers that lead into a brick wall of " Duh "

[bicyclethief]

I HATE the sole credit that soldiers fight to protect our freedoms. Guess what else ensures our freedoms? Making friends and allies, diplomacy, etc. Killing the people who want to take our freedoms is only one part of pie, not the whole goddamn thing.

[holdingcompany]

The NIE is rigged, just like the nightly news. Bayh is a fool. The NIE? Are you joking? That's what got us into this disaster in the first place. You'd be better off reading your horoscope and drawing conclusions from that, rather than the NIE.

End the war. Now.

[Crazyglues]

This war is a complete Nightmare.. and anyone who can't think of a better way to spend 3 trillion dollars just isn't thinking.

The real question we should be asking is who is paying for this war. Because I'm not. I'm done with this war.

A war that makes no sense and has no end in site.

I don't know who's more stupid, the people who think this war has anything to do with terror, or the people in the war who refuse to open their eyes and report what's really going, because we deserve better.

[Jimraynor45]

first off, it has only been estimated that the entire war will only cost about 2 trillion, it would cost 3 trillion there if were there for a couple more years. That is nothing compared to the cost of healthcare and social security

[Crazyglues]

I say 3 trillion because that's what they are saying will be the real price of the war when you consider the cost of the thousands who will need care long after the war is over. And not to mention the re-build budget.

Sure 3 trillion is not a lot when you think of it as someone else's credit card. You just use it to go shopping.

It's easy to support a war when you believe it's real price doesn't cost anything.

[SilenceSlayer224]

@Crazyglues You're paying for this war whether you like it or not. Please leave the country you closet taliban.

[hobo71]

Get that Hillary vid

Obama is TOAST since Rev Wright

New story going around is some guy is saying he had sex with Obama his name is Larry just type in Obama & Larry to check it out

Obama has ties to a former leader of the violent left-wing activist group the Weather Underground are drawing new scrutiny Cassius Clay who waited until after he became world champion to change his name to Muhammad Ali and tell the world he was a Black Muslim will Obama will do the same

You Have Been Notarized

[makeyanoticeme]

I'd like to know how much you know about the relationship to Ayer? The fact that the man is well known in politics, and just because they bumped into each other during speeches, or what have you, does that make you scared that Obama is going to what? Get into office and bomb some building? Gah, you have got to be kidding me. Also, if you follow polls, where has Obama taken a hit over the reverend Wright 'scandel'? Where? FYI--I'm not an Obama Supporter.

[JerezJulio]

Is this the supreme commander of the US arm forces or a PR representative for the white house? what fuck does that chanpane analogy means?

I do not know why but I felt like we where listening to Scott McClellan all over again.

Come on Petraeus be honest man, the "one year temporary surge" never worked, you where not telling the complete truth. In fact the first months violence in Iraq went down because you bribed the Sunni insurgency, but now that payments stops the violence is back.

[makeyanoticeme]

They champagne analogy was about winning. Champagne is for celebrating and everyone invested in the Iraq war has their stuffed in the back of the fridge, meaning, we are nowhere near a victory or a time to celebrate.

[Paulginz]

I don't get it.

Both of the guys seem to be having a reasonable grown-up discussion.

[Telcontar1962]

Are they?

One is asking a series of reasonable questions the other is saying you can have opinions but be thankful to me and my troops you can.

I almost thought Patreus was auditioning for a part in the remake of A Few Good Men.

[libertyerian]

He said "we fight so we can express differing opinions". So to shut this guy up he suggests that stopping the fighting is a threat to our freedom. So Iraq will take our freedom of speech if we withdraw. He's a liar and Bayh is a fool for conceding that point. The NYT never should have apologized for the betray-us ad.

[kalvinphil]

good point  thumbs up from me !

[kalvinphil]

WOW Patraeus is on his way to losing the respect of the American people.....which is a hard thing to do for our #1 guy in the army.

[nanquan491]

I think he can manage without the so called "respect" of some of you far left wing loons.

[snarkwaupaca]

Both of you are what is wrong with American Politics.

[nanquan491]

Not really. If by that you're referring to mutual name calling etc. rather than having a sensible discussion, believe me there's nothing I'd like more. But when someone makes statements about Gen. Patraeus saying he's on his way to "losing the respect of the American people" for not succumbing to peer pressure and making responsible decisions in a tough situation, it's obvious such a person is an extreme partisan in his thinking, and is beyond common sense,so labeling him a loon is appropriate.

[kalvinphil]

lol.. left wing? I dont follow wings...Im an individual.....not a dem not a rep...not left or right wing...just a free thinker unlike people in those catagories. U sound like some kind of brown nosed sheep.

[nanquan491]

Some of the world's dumbest people are "free thinkers" as well. Congratulations.

[kalvinphil]

there are ignorant people in every group. We seem to elect most of them. Open your eyes. I didnt say I didnt respect Patraeus but he obviously is being totally vague and wont answer the question in this clip.

[nanquan491]

Fine, that's your opinion. But it was very obvious that Senator Bayh was being very political and leading with his questions,and Patreous obviously didn't want to be inappropriate and simply tell him he doesn't know what he's talking about and that he's full of shit, so he was being polite.

Petraeous gives his recommendations as the commander of the campaign,and this presumptuous and pompous senator actually thinks he knows better, and tries to argue it as "difference of opinion". Pathetic.