Upon hearing that famous former Iraq war general David Patraeus resigned as head of the CIA due to an extra marital affair, my first reaction was, "What's the fuss". Only later was it revealed that extra marital affairs, like being gay, is frowned upon in the "Spook" industry because of the possibility of blackmail. Tawdry tidbits are now surfacing that his paramour, gorgeous Patraeus biographer and Afghanistan jogging partner Paula Broadwell, was being investigated by the FBI after another female acquaintance of Patraeus complained of email harassment from Ms. Broadwell. Do we hear a "cat fight"? The investigation led to the affair with Patraeus, which quickly escalated to a potential classified security leak investigation.
No matter what additional salacious morsels come forth, my beef with Patraeus has nothing to do with his romantic shenanigans. He's a sinner in my book for his participation in prolonging our criminal Iraq war. He knew full well, like every other person who bothered to think, that it was a made up war of conquest by the Bush Administration war cabinet including the President, Vice President, Defense Secretary, National Security Advisor and a posse of Neocon advisors. When the Iraq war was collapsing in 2006, Gen. Patraeus was tapped to be the face of America's face saving measure called the "Surge". Officially known as "The New Way Forward", the Surge poured 20,000 more soldiers into the war and extended the tours of the hundred thousand plus troops already there to prevent a complete collapse of our Iraqi war of conquest and the Bush Administration's place in history.
Patraeus was lionized as a military genius for developing theories of counter insurgency that he applied as the leader of the Surge. Virtually the entire government and corporate media fell in line and created the fairy tale that Patraeus almost single handedly turned an imminent Iraq loss into a win. He appeared anywhere and everywhere to accept the praise and vaulted from a two star to a four star general. He was even touted as a possible presidential contender.
Patraeus was asked to perform the same surge miracle in Afghanistan after Gen. Stanley Mc Chrystal was summarily fired by President Obama for disparaging public remarks Mc Chrystal made about his superiors. Although Patraeus' Surge in Afghanistan has been a resounding bust, he was persuaded to retire from the Army to assume the critical job of CIA director. After 14 months, his apparent dueling girlfriends put an ignominious end to his 38 year military and CIA career.
Decades ago this former Catholic was taught about little or venial sins, and the mighty transgressions known as Mortal Sins. What Patraeus did or didn't do in his private life are, at most, venial sins. His actions to put lipstick on the pig of our criminal Iraq war constitute Mortal Sins. The 1,000 US soldiers who needlessly died because this war was senselessly prolonged are are testament to how mortal his sins were.
And while were at it, one of your big pushes was for Obama to end the war and pull out the troops. Walt, you are aware that over twice the amount of troops have died in Afghanistan in Obama's 4 years than they did in Bush's 8, aren't you? Is Obama hanging our own out to dry? Why don't you address that Walt? Heck, the mainstream media even ignored it. But that's OK Walt, because when the ones that survive Obama's lack of leadership and support come back, there will be plenty of food stamps available, as foodstamps saw the largest monthly rise in history, at a time when a record 47 million are on foodstamps. Of course, this information was held back from it's usual release date at the beginning of the month and instead released after the election so as not to harm Obama. It's interesting, isn't it Walt? You fault Peter Roskam for not debating Leslie Coolidge, but you won't even engage in debate or defend your own blog posts. You're no different than Roskam- you just drop your little hit-and-run posts, spinning them in what ever manner befits you, and then you run away.
The info on food stamps and deaths in Afghanistan are called facts, not talking points, as is the fact that Hilary Clinton won't attend the hearings. We all know how the Democrats work- it's right down the highway in Chicago.
Frank, I know Fox and Rush and Rove, etc PROMISED you that Mittens was going to SWEEP the election. But please don't embarass yourself by implying President Obama's leadership has netted more fatalities than BUSH, who owns all of the deaths and injuries and broken familes from 911 not to mention to Weapons of Mass Distraction, which has cost us how many deaths in Iraq? Please, Frank - let it go before you twist yourself into a knot of right wing wackadoo sadness. Christina BTW, I didn't get any 'gifts', and I voted for President Obama twice. Today I think our "gift" was candidate Mittens himself. We all have so much for which to be Thankful - Enjoy the Holiday, Frank!!!!
From 2003 through December, 2008, 4222 US Soldiers were killed in Iraq. Add that to the 2001 attack, (rounding that off to 2500 civilians) and the 627 soldiers killed i Afghanistan, Bush owns 7349 Mission Accomplished!!!! deaths. President Obama - 149+60+54+1 in Iraq. Afghanistan - 317+409+418+291. The worst year in Afghanistan for Obama (418) is less than 2003 was for Bush (486). You shouldn't thrown FOX FACTS out there until you check them out. This topic is sad (and was needless from the beginning) so I really am done, except to say reading Walt gives me faith that intelligence and goodness has prevailed!!!
And to blame Bush for the Twin Towers attack is just silly. He is responsible for the war in Iraq and the lies about the WMD that caused the war. As good as our intelligence is, pinpointing terrorist attacks is not a simple thing, regardless of the administration.