Petraeus Takes On Cheneyism

[ProSense]

Sam Stein

Petraeus Takes On Cheneyism

Gen. David Petraeus, the military hero of the Republican (and even non-Republican) masses and the current leader of U.S. Central Command, cast himself as decidedly outside the Dick Cheney school of counter-terrorism thought on Sunday.

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"I have always been on the record, in fact, since 2003, with the concept of living our values. And I think that whenever we've perhaps taken expedient measures, they've turned around and bitten us in the backside. We decided early on, in the 101st airborne division, we just said, we decided to obey the Geneva Conventions...

"In the cases where that is not true we end up paying a price for it, ultimately," he added. "Abu Ghraib and other situations like that are non biodegradable. They don't go away. The enemy continues to beat you with them like a stick.... Beyond that, frankly, we have found that the use of interrogation methods in the army field manual that was given the force of law by Congress, that that works."

Petraeus wasn't done there. In another contrast with former Vice President Cheney -- as well as the vast majority of congressional Republicans -- he reiterated his support for closing Gitmo, albeit without a date-specific time frame.

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[bluestateguy]

1. I have been pleased that he has been cooperative with his new commander in chief

and this seems to confirm that he has no interest in the GOP nomination in 2012 or 2016.

[tabatha]

2. I hope Cheney and his daughter have the good sense to

stay away from TV now.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

3. Petraeus never was the villain that moveon and others portrayed him as.

I read his book about Iraq and the one thing he is however is someone who is intensely competitive and who doesn't like to lose. I think alot of people confused this with some sort of mongering.

[Cha]

4. I'm glad this anti-cheneyism is on record from the General

of the US Central Command. This country isn't about the sadomasochism of dick cheney and those who clap for him..like the john birchers.

[ck4829]

5. And to think, freepers wanted this man to run for President. LOL.

I bet they're feeling pretty sore about this.

[DrToast]

8. They automatically think military people are as crazy as they are for some reason.

[tularetom]

6. Petraeus also called for an end to don't ask don't tell

Heard this on the radio today. He apparently stated that he had served with many gay officers and as far as he was concerned their sexual orientation had no bearing whatsoever on the job they did. Said there were good ones and bad ones and in that respect they were just like any other group of officers.

[patrice]

7. Cheneyism: Causes/Will Cause U.S. Troops to be tortured if they are captured.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. I'll admit I was wrong about the guy

I guess I let my hatred of all things Bush cloud my judgment of both him and Gates.

[Hekate]

10. "Abu Ghraib and other situations like that are non biodegradable. They don't go away."

That is a wonderful turn of phrase. General, I salute you. Please accept my thanks for your ongoing service to our nation.
:patriot:

Hekate

[Jennicut]

11. Yes, that was a very good point made.

The people of Iraq don't forget and neither does Al-Qaeda and those that are recruitable. Cheney does not care, but why should he? It is all about hom much money his company made over there

[imnKOgnito]

12. And yet another

duh moment that has me asking, why is a man that continually goes on TV and proudly admits to being a war criminal still walking around free? Dick Cheney and everyone else that participated in 'the cases where that is not true' needs to be prosecuted according to the law. C'mon Prez... if we're a nation of laws, lets get to the business of upholding them!