Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

May 17, 2008 12:48:03 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

Back to the grid

Petraeus Grilling Moves to House  

Posted Apr 9, 08 2:12 PM CDT in US    Most Covered

(newser) – Gen. David Petraeus' visit to Capitol Hill continues today, with House members getting their chance to grill the top US commander in Iraq and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Democrats on the Armed Service Committee were vocal in their frustration about the war’s progress, even as Petraeus and Crocker were unyielding about a potential withdrawal timetable, the New York Times reports.

Committee chair Ike Skelton asserted, “The effort in Iraq is putting at risk our ability to decisively defeat those most likely to attack us,” even as Republican heavy Duncan Hunter expressed satisfaction: “I think they’ve made enormous advances since the last hearing.” But Skelton wants more progress, saying Iraqis won’t move toward autonomy until “we take the training wheels off.”

Source New York Times

open commentscomments (0)

Editor Recommended

Lebanon analogy bodes poorly for Iraq
Informed Comment | Apr 9, 08

Petraeus thinks US needs three or four more years in Iraq
Washington Post | Apr 9, 08

Related News

  • Iran Is Now a Bigger Threat in Iraq Than al-Qaeda: US Officials

    Apr 12, 08 3:06 PM CDT
    Iran Is Now a Bigger Threat in Iraq Than al-Qaeda: US Officials Recent battles in Basra prove that Iran is crippling Iraqi stability while al-Qaeda's influence there wanes, US officials say. David Petraeus pointed to Iran's influence in testimony this week, and now Shiite militias are said to have benefited from Iranian weapons, training, and guidance in Basra fighting—prompting a Washington probe of Iran's impact, the Washington Post reports. More »

  • Bush Backs Petraeus' Pause

    Apr 10, 08 12:22 PM CDT
    Bush Backs Petraeus' Pause Vowing that Gen. David Petraeus will have “all the time he needs” in Iraq, President Bush today announced a pause, from August until at least mid-September, in withdrawal of troops from Iraq, CNN reports. Citing the post-surge security gains, Bush said, “we have renewed and revived the prospect of success” in a war he characterized as “difficult, not endless.” More »

  • Petraeus Sees No New Troop Buildup in Iraq

    Apr 9, 08 8:44 PM CDT
    Gen. David H. Petraeus told the House Armed Forces Committee today that he does not foresee another buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, calling the possibility of a new surge "a pretty remote thought in my mind." If violences escalates again, the Army will make do with American and Iraqi troops already there, the Washington Post reports. His testimony comes a day before President Bush will lay out his troop strategy. More »

  • Petraeus Foils Senators Seeking Exit

    Apr 9, 08 7:09 AM CDT
    Petraeus Foils Senators Seeking Exit 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." More »

  • Candidates Seize Petraeus Moment

    Apr 8, 08 4:48 PM CDT
    Candidates Seize Petraeus Moment Today’s Capitol Hill appearance by Gen. David Petraeus was a golden opportunity for the White House hopefuls to flex their Iraq rhetoric, the Los Angeles Times reports. Hillary Clinton called for a troop withdrawal; though she agreed the decisions weren’t “easy,” she said the Bush administration “often talks about the costs of leaving Iraq … while ignoring the greater costs of staying.” More »

Petraeus Grilling Moves to House
Gen David Petraeus testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Petraeus Grilling Moves to House
Gen. David Petraeus, followed by Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker return from a break on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Petraeus Grilling Moves to House
Gen. David Petraeus arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
prev   next
play

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

Iraq  • David Petraeus  • troop withdrawal  • Ryan Crocker  • Duncan Hunter  • Ike Skelton


Loading...

Loading...

Related Threads: Congress and Iraq, Iraq Exit Strategy

Next story from this section »

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »