Questions

I did not see yesterday's hearing nor have I read anything about it, but the Center for American Progress poses some questions they wish Congress asked Petraeus:

• Is violence in Iraq down?
• Have sectarian deaths been significantly reduced?
• Is a possible drop in violence in Baghdad the result of the surge or some other factor?
• Are U.S. military casualties down?
• Are the bottom-up reconciliation and a turn by the Sunni tribes against Al Qaeda a significant turnaround in the war? Is this a result of the surge?
• Are Iraqi security forces improving?
• Have Iraqis made progress on the benchmarks agreed upon at the beginning of the surge?
• Has the Iraqi government taken advantage of the additional U.U. troops to achieve progress on their national reconciliation and political transition?
• Has the quality of life improved for ordinary Iraqis?

For the Center's answers to these questions, read this. I know that my response would essentially be 'no' to the above list.

I have to wonder whether the Congressmen viewed the hearings as another political battle between the two parties or really wanted to understand Petraeus' views. You also have to question the wisdom of the MoveOn people. Was it smart to accuse Petraeus of being a traitor? It seems as though our 'leaders' and the activists are more interested in fighting political battles and enhancing their image rather than in seriously trying to make this a better and safer world.