Politico has Senator Russ Feingold's opening statement on today's Senate hearing with Petraeus

[flpoljunkie]

Feingold on today's hearing

Here are Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-Wis.) opening remarks from today's hearing. Feingold has been one of the leading anti-war voices in Congress since before the Iraq war even started, so it will be interesting to see how he treats Petraeus and Crocker:

"Mr. Chairman, it is simply tragic that, six years to the day after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, our attention is focused on what has been the greatest mistake in the fight against al Qaeda – namely, the Iraq war. I strongly supported the decision to go to war in Afghanistan, which served as a sanctuary for al Qaeda. The war in Iraq has been a terrible diversion from Afghanistan, and what should be a global fight against a global enemy.

The war in Iraq has taken away resources – particularly personnel and money – that could be better spent fighting al Qaeda and its affiliates not just in Afghanistan but also in North Africa and Southeast Asia. It has reversed the outpouring of support and good will that emerged after 9/11, it has deepened instability throughout the Middle East, and it has resulted in the emergence of an Al Qaeda affiliate in Iraq that didn't exist before the war."

As this summer’s declassified NIE confirmed, Al Qaeda remains the most serious threat to the United States, and key elements of that threat have been regenerated or even enhanced. While our attention and resources have been focused on Iraq, Al Qaeda has protected its safe haven in Pakistan and increased cooperation with regional terrorist groups.

The question we must answer is not whether we are winning or losing in Iraq but whether Iraq is helping or hurting our efforts to defeat al Qaeda. That is the lesson of 9/11, and it’s a lesson we must remember today and every day. "

By John Bresnahan 09:53 AM

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0907/Feingold_on_todays_hearing.html

[Botany]

1. thank you for the post

Russ is the man

[State the Obvious]

2. Yes, we must ask "Is Iraq helping or hurting our efforts to defeat al Qaeda?"

Unfortunately, the Democrats will NOT spend the day pounding away at this question....they will each question something else (independently) and then wonder why no one listens to them.

On the other hand, Republcians will answer that question, as one SOLID UNIT. Their "media instructions/reply" will of course be, "We will fight them there, so we don't have to fight them here." And there will be no further objections by the Democrats. :banghead: