11:15 a.m. With the televised portion of the Petraeus and Crocker appearances now concluded--including a very little Q&A with some senators--there is indeed little new news. What Petraeus said, or projects for the future--"the way ahead," it's characterized--amounts to little good, for the public interest.

The 'drawdown' of the 'surge' buildup will be completed in about July. Then there will be a 'pause,' acc to SecDef Gates, tho Petraeus phrases it differently, for "assessment" and "evaluation." The 'pause' is projected to last about 45 days, during which time apparently they're not going to be trying to bring any more troops ...   more »

9:52 a.m. Gen. Petraeus is up, gives his prepared statement. The real defeat, for us, in Iraq was going in. But we're not going to hear that from this 4-star general representing administration policy. Literally it's 8 stars, 4 on each shoulder. U.S. military uniforms are more ornate than they used to be. Listening to Gen. Petraeus, I cannot help wondering how he got his fourth star when the general I long ago knew best, a very highly qualified man, did not. But the question answers itself.

Parade magazine once ran an article, in my childhood, showing a historical pattern ...   more »

From the Senate Armed Services Committee--this morning, a well-publicized hearing with testimony from Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Live-blogging, up to a point:

CNN 9:30 a.m. Opening statements by Armed Services Comm Chair Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and ranking member John McCain, both of whom begin by thanking Petraeus and Crocker. Camera shots show Petraeus and Crocker not looking cheerful. Petraeus looks resentful; Crocker somber or perhaps exhausted. This is a thankless situation to be in--justifying or fronting for or even putting the best face possible on an immoral, illegal and unconstitutional invasion of another country.

While McCain reads his ...   more »

125^th in continuing blog series on the administration push to war. The 2004 U.S. election race heads into its final month, but no definitive calling to account is achieved. Millions of Americans show themselves more able to call the White House to account than does the presidential campaign process.
October, 2004:

 

Oct. 3, 2004 – The deadly assault on the city of Fallujah in Iraq begins.
 

Oct. 3, 2004 – National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, appearing on Sunday talk shows, says she stands by her pre-war intelligence assessment of Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.

Interviewed on ...   more »