At the Republicans and Democrats back to back press conferences following the closed briefing for congressmen by General Petraeus We seems to have gotten different stories about what the General said.
The Democrats seemed to say that the General agreed the message that the clock is ticking on our involvement is something that might help move the Iraqi politicians to move on critical items -- the same position that SecDef Gates recently took.
But then it was the Republicans turn and when Rep Boner was asked whether General Petraeus had "explicitly said" that the time table language in the Democrats proposed supplemental "would be harmful to his military and political efforts" Boner basically said yes. Though the Democrats who had just spoken seemed to suggest something rather different.
The other big news also came from Mr. Boner. He said that General Petraeus had informed the congressmen in the closed briefing that the "main cause of the sectarian violence in Iraq was Iran through its provision of weapons and training." (I think it is very doubtful that the General said it was the "main cause" or anything like that because it is just not true.)
When the reporters tried to ask a follow-up about just who Iran was helping and how Rep. Hunter announced that since this had been a classified briefing it would not be proper to say anything more on that subject.
I wonder whether they can get away with this. Is General Petraeus really going to be able to jump on a plane and get out of town without himself taking any questions from the media? Notwithstanding some information being "classified" I don't see how he can expect to just blow into town, hold a closed meeting, and leave with the Republican and Democrats arguing over what he said.
That does not sound like it would be helpful at all.