John Nichols: Forget the War, House GOP Wants to Censure MoveOn

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from The Nation:



BLOG | Posted 09/10/2007 @ 11:34pm
Forget the War, House GOP Wants to Censure MoveOn
John Nichols



What is the first formal response of House Republicans leaders to the well-spun testimony of General David Petraeus about how the "success" of the Bush administration's surge strategy requires a long-term commitment to keep U.S. Troops on the ground in Iraq?

A resolution commending the general's logic? No, that wouldn't do. There is nothing particularly logical about claiming that, because things are going great in Iraq, the overwhelming majority of U.S. troops should not be allowed to come home.

A measure putting members of Congress on record as supporting President Bush's war-without-end approach to the Iraq imbroglio? No, that would provoke a revolt among rank-and-file Republicans in the House that party leaders could not control.

What. indeed, is the response to the most ballyhooed testimony the House has yet heard with regard to the war? Why, it's a resolution condemning internet activist group MoveOn.org for buying a full-page newspaper ad -- which appeared in the New York Times on the morning of the general's testimony -- to suggest that Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, might be preparing to betray both the truth and the troops.

Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, wrote the resolution, which has attracted the support of ten of his GOP colleagues, including California Republican Duncan Hunter, the ranking minority member of the House Armed Services Committee and an erstwhile contender for the Republican presidential nomination.

"The despicable attack MoveOn.org launched against General Petraeus today should be condemned by all Members of Congress, including the Democratic leadership," grumbles Boehner. "I urge members on both sides of the aisle to join in support of this resolution so the House speaks with one voice rejecting the character assassination tactics employed by this extremist group."

The resolution makes for good political theater. Indeed, the only real problem with it is this: The MoveOn ad predicted that Petraeus would make a political statement -- as opposed to a reasoned military assessment of facts on the ground. Additionally, the ad cited concerns expressed by the Government Accounting Office and intelligence specialists about efforts by Petraeus and his aides to "cook the books" in order to foster the false impression that the surge is working.

As it happens, that is precisely what Petraeus did. So, for all Boehner's blather about "despicable" attacks and "character assassination," the general's own testimony confirms the accuracy of the MoveOn ad's prediction of a betrayal. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=231423