The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO).
Skelton is presiding over the hearing and is currently giving his opening statement, where he is touching upon the issue of whether the cost of Iraq is harming our overall national security preparedness.
Skelton properly reminds of the long history of wildly "overoptimiistic" (which is to say, grossly false) assessments from the Bush Administration on Iraq.
Money line - 'Gen. Petraeus' strategy comes 2 years too late and 250,000 troops short.'
Quoting Gen Jones - 'the future of Iraq . . . depends on the Iraqis ability to reconcile politically.'
Then Skelton says, the Iraqis have not stepped up to the challenge. [This line of argument is not very pleasant to hear, this type of unfair blameshifting, but I believe for those of us who want to end our military involvement in Iraq, may have to accept these political tactics as a price to pay to make the case to the Aemrican People.]
The second Congressional Speaker is Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Lantos reminds that the Iraqi government is strongly tied to Iran.
[It seems clear that the Dem strategy is to get to the point of the Surge, political reconciliation in Iraq, which has no signs of success. Lantos was brutal in his criticisms of Maliki.]
Lantos - "It is time to go, it is time to go now."
The next speaker, Duncan Hunter (R-CA), defends poor Petraeus' honor. I am biased, but objectively as possible, I do not know what Hunter is trying to achieve in this opening statement. It is pretty bad it seems to me. He should have stuck to the "listen to the Generals" line.
NEXT Speaker - Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (D-FL). Cites her family members in the military. Apparently defers to their judgment on Iraq and the "Mission." Strangely, and imo, stupidly, makes reference to the Myth of the Purple Finger, and how we must continue to fight for "Iraqi democracy." Is this a winning argument for the GOP? Now she returns to the "cut and run" charge that worked so wonderfully for them in 2006.
Defends Petraeus' honor also.
In my view, the Republican representatives make a mistake in not simplifying their message to "let's listen to the Generals."
Update [2007-9-10 13:10:32 by Big Tent Democrat]: BTW, I believe MOVE ON AGAIN shows how politically stupid an organization it is with its "General Betray Us" Ad. From beginning to end on Iraq, Move On has been a disaster in 2007.
Not surprisingly, Ros-Lehtinen lashes out at the ad and tries to tie it to Dems.
Ros- Lehtinen cites Neville Chamberlain. This is flailing.
When the GOP has stuck to the "let's listen and honor the Generals" script, it has had its best moments. When they argue the merits, they do their argument harm.
Update [2007-9-10 13:15:18 by Big Tent Democrat]: Strangely, in recounting the supposed Al Qaida strategy, the Al Qaida endgame, according to Ros Lehtinen, was an attack on Israel, nopt the United States. Sort of missed the "fighting them there so we do not have to fight them here" line. An odd performance.
Update [2007-9-10 13:16:35 by Big Tent Democrat]: Petraeus' Opening Statement. They cut his mike . . .
[Added TL:] Gen. Petraues' prepared remarks are here.]
