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Pelosi Initially Turns Down Offer Of Briefing From Petraeus During Visit To US
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Rob - 07:04pm on 04/18/2007

She was against it before she was for it:

The top military commander in Iraq will make a rare visit to Capitol Hill next week but House Democratic leaders - unlike their Senate counterparts - initially declined the Defense Department’s offer of a Members-only closed-door briefing with Army Gen. David Petraeus, according to Congressional and administration sources.

A spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at first acknowledged Tuesday that the Pentagon’s request to have Petraeus give a House briefing had been denied due to “scheduling conflicts” next week. Later on Tuesday, Pelosi’s office contacted Roll Call stating that the Speaker was now working to set up a session…

“It’s puzzling that for the first time that Gen. Petraeus is in the country since he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate that the House has declined an offer to talk to him. We would hope that they would reconsider,” the official said before Pelosi reversed course Tuesday and agreed to set up a House-wide meeting with Petraeus next Thursday.

Pelosi changed her mind not because she cares about anything Petraeus has to say but rather because she considered the criticism she was likely to get for denying him a meeting with House members and decided that it had to be done.

Regardless, it’s just more evidence to show that for Democrats the real war isn’t in Iraq but rather right here in America.  And the real enemy is President Bush and Republicans.  The Democrats couldn’t care less what Petraeus has to say about Iraq, because they’ve already decided that “Iraq is a failure” is their position on the war and no about of input from the General actually running the flippin’ war is going to change their minds.

And if you don’t believe me, answer this question: If the Democrats care so much about Iraq (and they apparently do as it’s just about all they ever talk about) then why aren’t they more enthusiastic about these opportunities to speak with General Petraeus?

About a week ago Petraeus offered another briefing to Congress, and the only Democrat to attend that meeting was Senator Levin.  The only Democrat (aside from Lieberman) who is now against cutting off funds for the troops in Iraq.


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