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crunch60

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143. Juan Cole: Real Petraeus Failure Was Counterinsurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan

Mon Nov 12, 2012, 03:51 PM

Nov 2012

snip'
JUAN COLE: I was opposed to General Petraeus becoming head of the CIA in the first place, because one of the CIA’s charges is to evaluate policy, and one of the big policies that needs to be evaluated is the troop escalation, what is called the "surge," in Afghanistan, the big counterinsurgency program that Petraeus put into place and then shepherded through as commander on the ground. And the CIA can’t properly evaluate that program if its head is the author of the program. And I’m sure the analysts tried, and maybe, you know, Petraeus tried to be objective and so forth, but it’s just not right. So I think that’s the real issue here, is why—why did the Obama administration put an actor in a military role, then as the head of the agency that will evaluate the actions?

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/12/juan_cole_real_petraeus_failure_was

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Prediction: Petraeus conspired with GOP on Benghazi to undermine Obama for Election [View all] berni_mccoy Nov 2012 OP

Hope you are right, berni_mccoy. yellerpup Nov 2012 #1

Petraeus, Rove, and Paula Broadwell: I Smell A Rat Coyotl Nov 2012 #119

A Petraeus Puzzle: Were Politics Involved? Coyotl Nov 2012 #129

this suggests that the FBI Agent knew Petraeus was involved - very odd twist Justice Nov 2012 #190

NY MAG: The Petraeus Investigation�s Rogue FBI Agent Mystery Coyotl Nov 2012 #155

In the chain of command, Petraeus has a boss Coyotl Nov 2012 #172

Before or after the fact? leveymg Nov 2012 #2

After. berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #11

The implication is more serious zentrum Nov 2012 #79

Yep. this is the dangerous backstabbing shit underthematrix Nov 2012 #167

I'm scratching my tyne Nov 2012 #25

don't think so OKNancy Nov 2012 #3

I think Cantor had hoped to protect Petraeus Dalai_1 Nov 2012 #7

Agree DURHAM D Nov 2012 #8

could be. If it would have hurt Obama he would OKNancy Nov 2012 #10

I believe Cantor used his knowledge of affair to leverage Petraeus. berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #12

More probable than Cantor trying to protect Petraeus. Can't see kiranon Nov 2012 #75

So why is Petraeus under the bus wheels now? Cracklin Charlie Nov 2012 #90

The Obama administration knows he's a rat, in so many ways. DCKit Nov 2012 #125

Obama could have asked for his resignation, certainly should have if not offered Coyotl Nov 2012 #133

Fascinating story of how Patreeus is now under the bus instead of driving it.. Cha Nov 2012 #164

Exactly. BlueMan Votes Nov 2012 #64

One fact: Republicans protect their own. glinda Nov 2012 #104

The only good thing that came out of this mess DURHAM D Nov 2012 #17

I agree with you. This is a story of spooks behaving badly. yardwork Nov 2012 #44

Kinda like 'and they would have gotten away it too, if not Z_I_Peevey Nov 2012 #48

Have they already hung their 2016 star on Jeb Bush? summerschild Nov 2012 #66

That makes sense... femrap Nov 2012 #77

Spooks Gone Wild riverwalker Nov 2012 #100

A rouge FBI guy? Chef Eric Nov 2012 #72

J. Edgar Hoover preferred riverwalker Nov 2012 #102

:-) nt Chef Eric Nov 2012 #197

LOL - oops rogue, obviously OKNancy Nov 2012 #137

I believe this 100% Dalai_1 Nov 2012 #4

I am not sure what exactly it is Horse with no Name Nov 2012 #5

Problem is that Petraeus probably has the goods on some important people himself and rhett o rick Nov 2012 #37

The entire thing stinks. liberalmuse Nov 2012 #6

Bob Woodward tyne Nov 2012 #9

Cantor probably couldn't do it (authorization) so he used his leverage berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #16

What Petraeus interview in late Oct? speedoo Nov 2012 #69

Bob Woodward also blamed the President's first debate performance Z_I_Peevey Nov 2012 #38

I remember thinking the femrap Nov 2012 #81

Or there could have been an ongoing mission at that very moment where american lives were at stake. bluestate10 Nov 2012 #116

We'll femrap Nov 2012 #139

I am convinced that the CIA killed a major al quida operative in either an assault bluestate10 Nov 2012 #115

Ah yes, #2. Eddie Haskell Nov 2012 #121

Al qaeda number 2 is the Spinal Tap Drummer of terrorists. Dr. Strange Nov 2012 #142

me too riverwalker Nov 2012 #110

you are exactly right - do you think it was the rogue agent? Justice Nov 2012 #191

Petraeus did not tell Cantor anything, to my knowledge. TwilightGardener Nov 2012 #13

Agree DURHAM D Nov 2012 #18

Thanks updated the post with this. berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #19

GOP tried to make this Obama's Iran Hostage Crisis LynneSin Nov 2012 #14

Romney even made statements to that effect berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #20

I agree. sandyshoes17 Nov 2012 #22

I believe your prediction will be true. BlueCaliDem Nov 2012 #15

Why would Petraeus(CIA) tyne Nov 2012 #23

Oh, right, because Obama would say, "Waaah! The General lied to me!" Cf: Cuba, JFK and. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #26

No. tyne Nov 2012 #43

It is now common knowledge that the CIA gave DURHAM D Nov 2012 #40

I agree with you up to the "simple incompetence" part. yardwork Nov 2012 #46

If RobMe femrap Nov 2012 #91

McChrystal. TwilightGardener Nov 2012 #99

thank you! nt femrap Nov 2012 #140

The CIA's supposed "incompetence" is just a cover daughterofthedust Nov 2012 #177

Bingo, that's what I think also...and welcome to DU! n/t AntiFascist Nov 2012 #183

That might explain this: bemildred Nov 2012 #21

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar frazzled Nov 2012 #24

People do conspire too, you know. They really do sometimes. nt bemildred Nov 2012 #27

Actually, people conspire ALL the time. WeekendWarrior Nov 2012 #182

Of course, I'm trying to be polite. bemildred Nov 2012 #189

Et tu, Brute? WinkyDink Nov 2012 #29

Because I'm not ready to sign on to a conspiracy theory ... frazzled Nov 2012 #34

No, because you said "conspiracy theories" PLURAL. My remark was not that YOU are Brutus, but that WinkyDink Nov 2012 #117

I agree. Life is so much better if we live in the "no conspiracy" bubble. nm rhett o rick Nov 2012 #41

Black box voting, no problem, what conspiracy? Coyotl Nov 2012 #149

I agree nt Crabby Appleton Nov 2012 #185

Thank you! Tutonic Nov 2012 #28

#3 now works for me DURHAM D Nov 2012 #30

What a ludicrous prediction! Total fiction! Hugin Nov 2012 #31

lol, ok I may be wrong on that part of it. berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #35

broke up four months earlier. found documents on her computer when? a couple months ago? seabeyond Nov 2012 #32

I think seeing one of the modern day traitors Doctor_J Nov 2012 #33

I have always thought that Benghazi was a Republican political ploy... CoffeeCat Nov 2012 #36

They were on message...quick Horse with no Name Nov 2012 #42

I know. I wonder how Geraldo knew anything. loudsue Nov 2012 #83

Some smidgen of common sense? Wouldn't take much! Coyotl Nov 2012 #150

They threw every kind of pasta in Italy at the wall, nothing stuck Coyotl Nov 2012 #55

It stuck over at Fox Newsville... CoffeeCat Nov 2012 #158

Is it possible that they, through some of their mercenaries, planned and executed the ciking724 Nov 2012 #67

They did seem to know too much too soon. Or think that they did. n/t kiranon Nov 2012 #82

+1 nt femrap Nov 2012 #98

Ooohh Bullshit. You are really going off the deep end there. Coyotl Nov 2012 #113

+1 femrap Nov 2012 #96

If so, it backfired. HooptieWagon Nov 2012 #39

the murder of an American ambassador and the invasion of a US embassy is a huge deal demhottie Nov 2012 #61

It wasn't an embassy, HooptieWagon Nov 2012 #138

What IS a big deal, it seems to me, is that a consulate in a hot zone is endangered by CIA ops Coyotl Nov 2012 #152

I'm reading theories on other sites daughterofthedust Nov 2012 #178

Don't forget the Darrell Issa connection and releasing classified info BumRushDaShow Nov 2012 #45

OLD FASHION HYPOTHESIS ROBROX Nov 2012 #47

"...business will continue..." - perhaps true if we were still under Bush/Cheney leadership, ciking724 Nov 2012 #108

I would lawyer up if I was Dave Reichert alcibiades_mystery Nov 2012 #49

Dave Reichert something fishy riverwalker Nov 2012 #123

we need to be more humble when mocking Freeper conspiiracy theories Enrique Nov 2012 #50

Two things berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #51

what did Petraeus do to undermine Obama? Enrique Nov 2012 #53

See the update in the OP. Petraeus gave a statement toward the end of the campaign berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #60

that's what I'm talking about Enrique Nov 2012 #85

What reason would Cantor have protect our future Nov 2012 #94

BLACKMAIL.... femrap Nov 2012 #101

Petreaus Allowed Right Wing Think Tanks to Set Up Shop at his Afghan Headquarters Coyotl Nov 2012 #175

Shades of NYT and Judith Miller in Iraq. amandabeech Nov 2012 #187

Seems quite logical to me. nt Live and Learn Nov 2012 #52

I agree with some of this, but plethoro Nov 2012 #54

They've both admitted to it. And the threatening e-mails Broadwell loudsue Nov 2012 #89

Can you source this Bernie? Coyotl Nov 2012 #56

Here berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #62

That is hardly something do build your conspiracy theory on. speedoo Nov 2012 #74

Sorry, pasted wrong link. Corrected now. berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #93

Important area to consider here: "The source of the classified documents remains unclear." Coyotl Nov 2012 #156

TTBOMK - the allegation of classified material release is just Fox talk Coyotl Nov 2012 #88

This, I doubt. I never thought Petraeus was all that political. TwilightGardener Nov 2012 #57

Do not get to be a 4Star General without knowing how to play politics IMHO. kiranon Nov 2012 #86

No, I don't mean political in that sense. I mean political TwilightGardener Nov 2012 #92

Don't forget the bush implants. And you don't get to be the head of the cia without Dont call me Shirley Nov 2012 #127

Petraus is VERY political--and planned on running for president as a Repeublican someday. tblue37 Nov 2012 #184

You mean EC Nov 2012 #58

Republicans don't resign...they have no shame! truebluegreen Nov 2012 #59

The General is femrap Nov 2012 #107

Why would you say he was being blackmailed. More likely FIRED! Coyotl Nov 2012 #157

Surely the femrap Nov 2012 #166

Pre-dating Benghazi, there's another possible side to the story mojowork_n Nov 2012 #63

I've idly speculated elsewhere that I had this down for some sort of "7 Days in May" coalition_unwilling Nov 2012 #65

Totally agree. tater_salad Nov 2012 #68

Somebody was playing games.....was Broadwell the go between? Historic NY Nov 2012 #70

Wrap your head around this: "FBI continued to investigate and intercept Petraeus� email exchanges... Coyotl Nov 2012 #71

Until there is a more reliable source for your linked story Z_I_Peevey Nov 2012 #87

Kessler says they femrap Nov 2012 #120

Tears of joy & sadness MissNostalgia Nov 2012 #73

You think Cantor has a deal with Rand Paul? re: Paul's anti-UN legislation opposing controls on gun patrice Nov 2012 #76

PS: Rand has a Nordquist-style OATH/extortion for senators to vote against UN gun control patrice Nov 2012 #132

if I say to my fellow Du'ers one more time to watch "Seven Days in May" again... winstars Nov 2012 #78

The "classified documents" angle, real or rumor Coyotl Nov 2012 #97

Yes, a comprehensive timeline will reveal much, I suspect. Z_I_Peevey Nov 2012 #106

Hopefully you are spot on and some repugs get kicked to the curb. RedCloud Nov 2012 #80

I fear... DirtyDawg Nov 2012 #84

love you Berni but having a hard time with this one. grantcart Nov 2012 #95

The supposition you raise does not contradict the possibility berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #109

"The big question is why didn't Cantor say anything when he found out before the election?" Coyotl Nov 2012 #160

I have one question malaise Nov 2012 #103

I highly doubt it. I don't think this was a conspiracy that was conceived prior to Benghazi berni_mccoy Nov 2012 #114

What did the Romney campaign do and when did it do it? Coyotl Nov 2012 #161

I think the things you point out are interesting. glinda Nov 2012 #105

Cantor sure as hell didn't know and keep it quiet for no reason. harun Nov 2012 #111

If it hurt Obama, it would have been made public. Cantor is scum. nt bluestate10 Nov 2012 #122

what if Cantor suspect the winner would be Obama aletier_v Nov 2012 #151

I remember Drudge was supposed to break big news that would be an 'election changer'... Spazito Nov 2012 #112

Doesn't this belong in the dungeon? Eddie Haskell Nov 2012 #118

Intersting, but requires too many 7 degree calculations ksoze Nov 2012 #124

I just now put my dog-tags back on. Whose soldiers? *O*U*R* soldiers, our families! Never forget!!! patrice Nov 2012 #126

meh. maybe mr cia dude and his fuggbunny were just boinkin fer fun struggle4progress Nov 2012 #128

That's what I tend to think. The conspiracy proposed doesnt work for me. nt stevenleser Nov 2012 #159

Romney's 2nd Debate Performance DallasNE Nov 2012 #130

Your timeline is all wrong Coyotl Nov 2012 #131

Do You Have A Link DallasNE Nov 2012 #136

Romney's 3rd Debate Performance unc70 Nov 2012 #148

This absolutely smells like a GOP/CIA attempt to repeat the Iran Hostage Crisis. backscatter712 Nov 2012 #134

I heaven05 Nov 2012 #135

Bookmarked. blackspade Nov 2012 #141

Juan Cole: Real Petraeus Failure Was Counterinsurgency in Iraq, Afghanistan crunch60 Nov 2012 #143

There certainly seem to be a lot of familiar players on this. Ganja Ninja Nov 2012 #144

What if the the head of the CIA was outed by State? Mme. Defarge Nov 2012 #145

More like State people were killed by CIA ops situation, seems to me. Coyotl Nov 2012 #162

Proof you might be right - Rush is preparing his ditto heads for the "Democrat lies" that will AnotherMother4Peace Nov 2012 #146

That's pretty much how I see it... ljm2002 Nov 2012 #147

Traitor Evangels of Death and Hate, financed by War Profiteers. nt patrice Nov 2012 #153

This is about blood. patrice Nov 2012 #154

Cantor didn't tell Boner at all. The plot thickens. Z_I_Peevey Nov 2012 #163

More timeline = Petraeus told biographer to stop harassing family friend in mid-summer Coyotl Nov 2012 #165

very interesting. so maybe SHE is the blackmailer aletier_v Nov 2012 #170

I just want to see repukes go to jail, is that wrong? :-) OverBurn Nov 2012 #168

You got it libodem Nov 2012 #169

bookmarked for later; real quest is who is the FBI agent and why did he/she contact Cantor? amborin Nov 2012 #171

I've felt this from the moment I read about Benghazi SaveAmerica Nov 2012 #173

She called it a 2naSalit Nov 2012 #176

Thanks!! That's the term!! Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy SaveAmerica Nov 2012 #195

Wasn't the Romney campaign trying to place "an informant" with Woodward. Who? Coyotl Nov 2012 #174

Spy vs. Spy Hermes Daughter Nov 2012 #179

You didn't mention it. But Romney's lightening fast response to Benghazi was suspicious SweetieD Nov 2012 #180

I don't think Petraeus was a player in this. I think he got played. Lucinda Nov 2012 #181

Dianne Feinstein has said for days she and her Senate Intelligence EmeraldCityGrl Nov 2012 #186

If FBI did not find a criminal activity, they cannot talk about ongoing investigations Coyotl Nov 2012 #193

This story is getting stranger sandyshoes17 Nov 2012 #188

I think you're correct...seen this? Lars39 Nov 2012 #192

No, and this is how the GOP thinks! Logical Nov 2012 #194

"FBI officials searched Paula Broadwell's home late Monday night. They left carrying several boxes. Coyotl Nov 2012 #196

He could have just screwed him with his testimony on Benghazi B2G Nov 2012 #198