About that Petraeus report…

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steve Benen

It looks like the political world no longer needs to debate who’s writing next week’s report on the administration’s war policy and conditions in Iraq. ThinkProgress noticed this Washington Times piece that highlighted a minor detail: there is no report.

A senior military officer said there will be no written presentation to the president on security and stability in Iraq. “There is no report. It is an assessment provided by them by testimony,” the officer said.

The only hard copy will be Gen. Petraeus’ opening statement to Congress, scheduled for Monday, along with any charts he will use in explaining the results of the troop surge in Baghdad over the past several months.

So, on the one hand we have reports and data from the National Intelligence Estimate, the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. Embassy, and the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, all of which point to very little security progress and no political progress in Iraq. On the other hand, we’ll have Petraeus’ opening statement to Congress.

And this is the moment the political world has been waiting for?

All this time, the problem was apparently grammatical. “Report” isn’t just a noun; it’s also a verb. Petraeus isn’t going to deliver a report to Congress; he’s simply going to report to Congress.

All of this is just so odd, I wonder if the Washington Times, which isn’t exactly known for high journliastic standards, somehow got this wrong. A month ago, Tony Snow told reporters, “Now, let us keep in mind that the full burden of this report does not fall on his shoulders. A lot of the key judgments, especially about politics, will fall on Ambassador Crocker. So this is — although I know a lot of people talk about ‘the Petraeus report,’ in fact, you have a report that is a joint report by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker.”

In three sentences, Snow referenced a “report” (the noun) four times. And now there isn’t going to be any such document?

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Whatever is said or written, there will almost certainly be a reduction in troop numbers.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Whatever is said or written, there will almost certainly be a reduction in troop numbers.

I hope so. What I'm concerned about is that without a written report, it will be difficult to weigh in on it's significance in comparison the other reports that have been made.

[mawilson 2,133]

What are you saying, Steven? We're not winning the war on terror?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What are you saying, Steven? We're not winning the war on terror?

I'm saying based on the other reports, things look pretty bleak.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I'm sure there will be discussion about a draw down of troops subsequent to the General's report. Everything seems kinda skeptical to me. A favorable report, which it will be, for the surge in troops, a drop in gas prices, the election season is in full swing, and it' seems to be all too right. Just makes me wonder... Hmmm!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

From the horse's mouth

In a letter to troops, General David Petraeus said Iraq's political leaders had not made the gains hoped for under the US troop "surge" strategy.

But he said US forces had achieved "tactical momentum" against insurgents in several areas of Iraq.

In the letter posted on his Baghdad command's website, Gen Petraeus said this summer was supposed to be a time of "tangible political progress" but "it has not worked out as we hoped".

He thanked the troops for their contributions to the counter-insurgency fight.

"I will go before Congress conscious of the strain on our forces, the sacrifices that you and your families are making, the gains we have made in Iraq," he wrote.