White House: Petraeus will testify

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

The White House on Thursday sought to alleviate concerns that Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker would not testify before Congress, as Democrats ratcheted up their rhetoric on the issue.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters in Crawford, Texas, that stories indicating Petraeus and Crocker would not testify openly before Congress were inaccurate.

“General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will testify to the Congress in both open as well as closed sessions prior to the September 15th report,” he said. “I think it’s unfortunate that anyone would suggest that they would not do that, trying to start a fight where there really isn’t one, because this has always been the plan, and in fact it's even called for in the legislation.”

At about the same time as the briefing, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) released a statement, saying, “The White House’s effort to prevent General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker from testifying openly and candidly before Congress about the situation in Iraq is unacceptable.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/white-house-petraeus-will-testify-2007-08-16.html

[acmavm]

1. And I'm sure he'll give an honest and accurate report of what

it's really like in Iraq.

Sheesh.

:sarcasm:

[Kikosexy2]

5. Doesn't make much..

of a difference...bullsh*t will be spewed...just call your local television station and Congressperson and tell them it's all b.s. ...tell them the Bush Administration has no credibility...untrustworthy..throw in Impeach them Now!!...

[Laura S.]

6. and I'm sure

x( For sure!

[rodeodance]

2. Bush Admin does a 180, Petraeus and Crocker will have to testify in public.

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Bush Admin does a 180, Petraeus and Crocker will have to testify in public.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1607019#1607019
1607019, Bush Admin does a 180, Petraeus and Crocker will have to testify in public.
Posted by ck4829 on Fri Aug-17-07 11:02 AM

Under pressure from Democrats to follow legislation which demands that General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker "will be made available to testify in open and closed sessions," the White House has confirmed that (surprise!), it will follow the mandate of the law:

"Q Gordon, is the White House trying to restrict the testimony of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker when they come here in mid-September with their latest report on the situation in Iraq?

MR. JOHNDROE: General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will testify to the Congress in both open as well as closed sessions prior to the September 15th report. That has always been our intention. I believe the President has talked about the need to hear from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. Those two men will come back to the United States, they will report to the President; they will report to Secretary Rice, they will report to Secretary Gates, as well as the joint staff. They will report to Congress, and more importantly, they will report to the American people on what they see on the ground there.

And I think it's unfortunate that anyone would suggest that they would not do that; trying to start a fight where there really isn't one, because this has always been the plan, and in fact it's even called for in the legislation"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/17/44935/1707

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Let me guess...

Petraeus will not be testifying under oath (so he can not be held legally liable for lying) and he will not be testifying on the record (to make it more difficult to catch him on his lies). He will, however, be testifying when he has the time (how does Thursday, August 20, 2112 look for you?) and he will be free to claim sanctuary under executive priviledge becase, since the President is Commander-In-Chief, the military is therefore part of the Executive Branch and high ranking military officers such as Petraeus are de facto cabinet secretaries.

[Laura S.]

7. Let me guess....

x( :puke: What I DON'T get, is HOW THE HELL DO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE GET AWAY WITH NOT TESTIFYING UNDER OATH??!! THIS JUST BURNS THE PANTS RIGHT OFF ME!! CAN YOU IMAGINE IF A DEMOCRAT TRIED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS SHIT??!!

[alllyingwhores]

9. Yes, exactly--the Dems have won a real victory here...

It's like a cartoon posted a few months ago--a rough paraphrase is--Repugs want to preemptively bomb all major cities in the middle east. The Dems make a grandstand against it--then, quickly, in an effort of bipartisanship and under pressure from their corporate sponsors (excuse me, I meant to say under pressure from the Whitehouse) allow only half of the cities to be bombed.

Then, when everyone realizes the horrendous costs to human life, the political and security disaster that we're left with--the Repugs and fascist media blame the Dems for voting for it--and the American people (according to the fascist corporate media) think the Dems are to blame for the mess.

[EVDebs]

4. Hey, Gen. Petraeus IS Charlie McCarthy ! Bush IS Edgar Bergen eom

[underpants]

8. Man they set some of new land speed record for CAVING IN on this one

Wow was that fast. I don't think they made it more than 24 hours before the focus groups told them to back off that one.

[Xipe Totec]

10. And who's going to write the report, the White House?

Let's not take our eye off the ball.

[gulliver]

11. Exactly.

The Bushies announce two outrages and then back away from the less important one.

The report is "the ball."