Leading lawmaker dismisses US scholars' upbeat report on Iraq (Murtha)

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A top Democratic lawmaker Tuesday dismissed the findings of two longtime Iraq war critics, who cited a dramatic improvement in the situation there following the infusion of thousands of additional US troops.

"I dismiss it at as rhetoric," said US Representative John Murtha, a former marine, congressional heavyweight on military matters, and outspoken Iraq War critic.

"I don't know where they were staying. I don't know what they saw. But I know this: that it's not getting better," Murtha said on CNN television.

"It's over-optimist. It's an illusion," the Pennsylvania lawmaker continued.

Independent Brookings Institution analysts Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack, who often have criticized US Iraq policy, on Monday said they noted a marked improvement on their last visit earlier this month to the war-torn country.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070731/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary

[durutti]

1. "[L]ongtime Iraq war critics" my ass

Pollack was one of the leading voices supporting the invasion. His book The Threatening Storm was instrumental in mobilizing liberal opinion against the war. He clearly has a vested interest in "proving" that he was "right, after all".

[humbled_opinion]

2. Stand By For More Stories Along These Lines...

The Effort will be to create an illusion that the surge worked.. This is a face saving issue for both Our Military and Bush.. In the end Bush will call victory on the surge he will mark Democrats as being on the wrong side of History and then he will draw the troops down...

If America chooses a Democratic President in 08 the spin masters will assign any follow on failures to them...

This is really a lose lose for Democrats.

[coalition_unwilling]

6. The Iraqi Resistance may have a thing or two to say about that, though. -n/t

[xchrom]

3. just like the lead up to the war --

voices critical of the surge will be stiffled, muted, and ignored.

[Jim__]

4. oil production, electricity production, water — only 2 hours of electricity!

More of what Murtha said:

Murtha continued, “In my estimation, the things I measure — oil production, electricity production, water — only 2 hours of electricity! I don’t know where they were staying, I don’t know what they saw.”

“It’s not getting better. It’s rhetorical, is what’s getting better,” Murtha said. “It’s an illusion.”

Murtha included what he considers the important measures of progress. They're not there.

[ooglymoogly]

5. um...make that one hr

and that is most likely an averaging of the 24/7 for many in the green zone and the varying degrees of zilch for the rest of the country.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. The link doesn't link to that story anymore...?

Now it says:

"No military solution in Iraq: new top military advisor "

[jordi_fanclub]

8. Link changed to...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070731/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary_070731171827

It's the typical Y! maneuver to cut inconvenient references...

[Barrett808]

9. Thanks for watching my back! n/t