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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Petraeus Foils Senators Seeking Exit

General, Crocker continue testimony on Capitol Hill today

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(Newser) – David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker head back to Capitol Hill this morning after a grueling day of testimony that was short on substance and clear goals, writes the Washington Post. Pressed repeatedly yesterday to describe what "conditions" they would like to see before recommending a troop withdrawal, the general and ambassador parried for 8 straight hours, offering bromides like "battlefield geometry" and "political-military calculus."

"I think people want a sense of what the end is going to look like," said one Republican senator. But on that point Petraeus and Crocker offered no specifics. The pair's evasion of specific goals, let alone the timetable, led Armed Services committee chair Carl Levin to dismiss their testimony as "just the next page in a war plan with no exit strategy."

Democratic president hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, greets Gen. David Petraeus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, prior to his testifying before the committee's hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Democratic president hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, greets Gen. David Petraeus on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, prior...   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Gen. David Petraeus, left, and Amb. Ryan Crocker prepare to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus, left, and Amb. Ryan Crocker prepare to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in...   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Photographers surround Gen. David Petraeus and Amb. Ryan Crocker as they prepare to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Photographers surround Gen. David Petraeus and Amb. Ryan Crocker as they prepare to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on...   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Gen. David Petraeus, left, listens as Ambassador Ryan Crocker testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus, left, listens as Ambassador Ryan Crocker testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war...   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Gen. David Petraeus listens to questions on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus listens to questions on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the status of the war in Iraq.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Maureen Dowd on the 'Dada nature' of the Petraeus hearing
New York Times

Quotes from the Petraeus-Crocker marathon
Associated Press

Editorial: Petraeus and progress
Wall Street Journal


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Iraq • Congress • John McCain • David Petraeus • Ryan Crocker • Armed Services Committee • Petraeus Crocker plan • Carl Levin • Iraq exit strategy • Bob Corker

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