NPR-The surge just needs 6-8 more months everyone in DC agrees

[underpants]

I could not BELIEVE this when I heard it yesterday afternoon

Guy Raz used the Pollack O'Hanlon piece, that he states was pushed by the Bush administration, as support for this conclusion and he sites the FACT that that op-ed is going to be used as the main basis inside the Beltway to support (not stop) the surge. Then they had on Rep. Baird from Washington who has changed his position.

This is one horribly twisted and spun report about the pre-emptive spin on the Patreus report and insider CYA
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13833632


The point of this message is to pre-empt any serious political opposition to the idea of extending the troop surge, which the White House and the Pentagon hope to maintain through next spring.

The approach has also taken some of the pressure off of Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, by giving Congress a "sneak peek" at what he's expected to say.


O'Hanlon and the rest of the group were briefed by top military and political officials. They were also given access to classified information.

O'Hanlon came back from his trip and penned an article with another colleague, Ken Pollack, for The New York Times. The article cited security progress in Iraq and called on Congress to back an extension of the troop surge.


Conservatives immediately embraced the article.

The White House distributed the piece via e-mail under the heading "a potentially climate-changing article."

The week that the article appeared, it was cited in four separate stories by the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard; the publication referred to O'Hanlon and Pollack as "left-wing critics of the war." That's not entirely accurate. Both O'Hanlon and Pollack backed the invasion of Iraq and backed the troop surge. They have criticized the way the administration has handled the war, but it barely differs from the criticism served up by The Weekly Standard.

Still, O'Hanlon and Pollack's point of view seems to be catching on more broadly. Recent polls suggest the number of Americans willing to see the troop surge extend through next April is growing. <---WHAT? Where?

And according to one source close to the general's staff, "Petraeus doesn't have to sell Congress on an extension. … He's already sealed the deal." <--- declaring victory and any naysayers clearly want us to LOSE (we already have)

[Jacobin]

1. Just one more Friedman Unit

Light at the end of the tunnel? Progress just around the corner?

Oh, and Iraq is now like Viet Nam, according to Bush today. Bush says it was a mistake to leave Viet Nam. If he had been president these last 35 years, I suppose we'd still have 500,000 troops their killing and maiming millions more for no reason.

What a bunch of sick sick sick people this administration and our congress has.

[underpants]

7. "I see the light at the end of the tunnel now...

I only hope that it's not a train"
-Cracker

It's a train.

[annabanana]

17. Yuppers! "We're rounding the corner!". . . .n/t

[Avalux]

2. Paid propoganda; that's all this is.

Recent polls suggest.....sure they do.

[underpants]

8. The last poll *I saw* said that no one trusted the report because of WH spin

but that was just last week :eye:

Maybe it was a poll at a DC cocktail party.

[BOSSHOG]

3. We need just six more months

that's what we've heard from the white house since late 2003. Obviously there are a whole bunch of dumbass fucking citizens who think they are patriotic, who have never done anything for our country who swallow that so well they put a bourbon street hooker to shame.

[BadgerLaw2010]

4. Yeah, definately need more of worsened US casualty rate and unimproved Iraqi casualty rate

[underpants]

5. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[Ezlivin]

6. Jon Stewart played a recap of past statements

These bastards have said the same damn thing like clockwork. Since 2003 they've been saying "just give it six more months."

Too bad we don't have a real media to cover this. (Sorry, Jon, but Comedy Central just doesn't reach as many people as the MSM.)

[SoCalDem]

9. Ahh.. June became September, then October, then April

and then the real election race is going full steam.. sounds like the plan is working..

[underpants]

13. April 2008-the 900 lbs gorilla in the room

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/102

[spanone]

10. they introduced O'hanlon as a 'moderate democrat'

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[mediaman007]

11. Don't tell anyone... don't give away our withdrawl date (it's a secret)

[underpants]

12. He followed me home

http://news.yahoo.com/comics/uclickcomics/20070820/cx_db_uc/db20070820;_ylt=AibJyRGc1F1AAawWtlJ77r_V.i8C

[mediaman007]

15. Touche'

[TwilightGardener]

14. First off, do O'Hanlon and Pollack have security clearances to receive classified info?

WTF?? Why would they need to see classified information, unless it's to signal to us that they were "shown" something that leads them to believe the surge is soon to be a resounding success, but they just can't tell us why! Either way, the smell of bullshit is strong with those two. I wonder, seriously, how much they were paid by this admin, or what they were promised? Being openly "sponsored" by the military and the administration on this trip and its agenda automatically throws their op-ed conclusions into doubt. But have no fear, the American people will believe the spin and get suckered in to sending more of their sons and daughters to die for nothing, and to have more of their tax dollars drained away for a fruitless effort. We are in deep, deep kimchee as a nation.

[spanone]

19. i woudn't be surprised if O'hanlon & Pollack were paid for their services ala Armstrong Williams

it's still going on, you know.

[DeeDeeNY]

16. This is scary

You would think less people would fall for this by now.

Media Matters contrasts this with reality

http://mediamatters.org/items/200708220004?f=h_top

[underpants]

18. It appears that the decision has already been made

If there is audio of this report on my original link check it out. I was literally driving along with my jaw open- they already decided on this!:wow: and decided WRONG!