Many questions, doubts in new Iraq strategy

[struggle4progress]

By MICHAEL GOODWIN
Columnist

... Asked whether “the clock has already run out,” Petraeus started by saying, “That’s a great question.” Asked whether the Iraqi government wants more American troops, he said, “I don’t know.” Does he have confidence in the Iraqi military? “I will have to determine for myself.” ...

Sen. Hillary Clinton, a New York Democrat, was spitting hellfire. Fresh off her “I’m in to win” presidential announcement, Clinton looked like she wanted to punch Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an independent Democrat from Connecticut, who had argued that congressional resolutions opposing the surge would demoralize our troops and embolden the enemy. Without looking at Lieberman or mentioning his name, Clinton accused him of “trying to up the rhetoric.” ...

“We know the policy is going forward,” she said, adding her belief that the plan is “a dead end.”

That’s an unfortunate choice of words, and, on the substance, I hope she’s wrong. But I fear she’s right.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16569094.htm