Two Big Skeletons in Petraeus’ Closet

[EV_Ares]

CounterPunch: (9/10/07) by Patrick Cockburn

A typically incisive report from Cockburn sees corporate media facilitating General Petraeus' "rapid elevation to overall U.S. commander that has led his critics to portray him as a courtier-soldier whose victories are won in TV interviews or in Washington." In fact, Petraeus "was promoted to his present position despite being responsible in part for two of the greatest debacles of the Iraq war."

In 2003-04 it was Petraeus who was in charge of securing Mosul, the third largest Iraqi city, from the insurgents, and his strategy of conciliating the Sunni and former Baath party members was lauded by the U.S. media. But nine months after he left, the insurgents captured Mosul; the police appointed by Petraeus fled or changed sides.... In the same year, Petraeus was given the crucial job of overseeing the training and expansion of Iraq's new army, and again he produced glowing reports of progress. But three years later, the army he was charged with turning into an effective fighting force is notoriously incapable and corrupt.

Link: http://www.fair.org/index.php