Politico – by MIKE ALLEN and JENNIFER EPSTEIN
Retired Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, former CIA director under President Barack Obama, called strongly Saturday for Congress to back the White House on Syria, declaring that military action against the regime is “necessary” to deter “Iran, North Korea and other would-be aggressors.”
“Failure of Congress to approve the president’s request would have serious ramifications not just in the Mideast but around the world,” Petraeus said in a four-sentence statement provided to POLITICO.
With Congress set to return from summer break on Monday, Obama’s request is in trouble in the Senate and on a path to an embarrassing loss in the House. He will sit for interviews Monday with six TV networks as he makes his case for military intervention in Syria ahead of an address to the nation on Tuesday.
In his years as U.S. commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, Petraeus was regarded by many Republican lawmakers as a god on military matters.
So the imprimatur of the former four-star general could help Obama woo skeptical Republicans, many of whom say their districts are overwhelmingly opposed to intervention. The Petraeus statement follows endorsements of Obama’s measure this week by Hillary Clinton, his first secretary of State; and Robert M. Gates, his first secretary of defense and a holdover from President George W. Bush.
The full text of Petraeus’ statement: “I strongly support congressional approval of President Obama’s request for authority to undertake military action against the Syrian regime of Bashar al Assad. Such action is necessary in order to deter future use of chemical weapons in Syria and to degrade the regime’s overall military capabilities.
“Failure of Congress to approve the president’s request would have serious ramifications not just in the Mideast but around the world. Military action against the Syrian regime is, thus, necessary not just to deter future use of chemical weapons in Syria and elsewhere, but also to ensure that Iran, North Korea and other would-be aggressors never underestimate the United States’ resolve to take necessary military action when other tools prove insufficient.”
As part of a multi-pronged push to sell his plan to Congress and the public, Obama will tape interviews Monday afternoon with anchors from ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as with PBS, CNN and Fox News, the White House said. The interviews will air Monday evening.
The interviews will be conducted by ABC’s Diane Sawyer, CBS’s Scott Pelley, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Fox’s Chris Wallace, NBC’s Brian Williams and PBS’s Gwen Ifill.
On Wednesday, Petraeus will give his first paid speech since resigning as CIA director in November. It’ll be at Duke University and is titled, “America and the World: A Conversation with Gen. David Petraeus.” Petraeus is working with six veterans’ support groups, and is chairman of the newly created KKR Global Institute for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. He also is teaching this fall at the University of Southern Californiam, and beginning Monday at the City University of New York.
Petraeus knows how to use a gun.
Petraeus, lead Congress and their families into battle yourself
what kind of bullshit is this?
No wonder the us military won’t go after Obama…..
I know this general is retired….
but many of the not retired must be in on the ruse of distroying the US Const rather than protecting it……
Who the hell is afraid of N Korea or Iran……
Maybe this man ought to be in a nursing home with Mccain
the two could try to figure out where they messed up
Betraus doing what he does best. I sure don’t expect the military to ever do anything but what they do now,invade other countries and cry for more weapons to do it with. Wait till they are told to do the same thing to ameriKan citizens that resist this tyranical government when the time comes. At that time the real patriots in the military will step up to the plate. If you think some of them wont follow any order they are given just remember Katrina. If you think the cops wont take over your city ,just remember Boston,and that was over 2 guys and one of them was killed leaving only one.After they were showed where that one was by a citizen ,they tried to kill him too! this country has storm trooper clouds all over it now and its going to get much worse!
Betraus.
I like that. A y might be a slight improvement, though.
Betrayus.
Thanks, my spelling could use some improvement but the message is accurate.
Not at all, cracker122049 (boy, that’s a tough one to abbreviate).I caught the intent immediately. Just thought the y was a bit more picturesque, that’s all.
Of course Petraeus is all for the war in Syria. Notice in the last paragraph of this article he joined KKR Global Institute which is an energy related investment firm. It works with liquified natural gas-remember the pipeline the globalists want to cross Syria with to reach a Mediterranean port? And go around Russia to try to get the European market which Gazprom currently has. KKR is also involved in the fracking going on here in the US, which is so controversial. Follow the money trail, and you’ll find their reasons for war. Look up the article which was on FTT titled “Syria, Natural Gas, OPEC, and the fall of the Petro Dollar-if I remember the title correctly. It was on the site towards the end of last week, I think. Very good read, and what’s really behind the push for war in Syria.
I did see that article, Paula at the time.
I am also quite familiar with the oil and gas industry, having spent many years in it as a self employed business person….in an enviornmental capacity….i enjoyed it……….all spent in the Williston Oil Basin………here in Mont. ND…mostly….
The same KKR that bought out GoDaddy?
you got to fill me in….
my business was salvaging crude oil off saltwater disposal wells….
so don’t know anything of what you speak
KKR is the outfit (if it’s the same one, and it most likely is) that bought out GoDaddy.com last year. They were Henry’s internet provider, and after KKR bought them out, Henry had nothing but problems – MAJOR problems, like being shut down for a day or two at a time.
He finally had to switch providers to maintain his sanity, as well as to keep the site up and running.
p.s. this will be my last comment tonight. I have to get back up to my brother’s to watch a movie.
Unfortunately, he’s an early-to-bed type, whereas I’m not.
Hahaha! OMG! Petraeus is so in bed and mind-controlled that there’s no help for him anymore. Why don’t we drop him off at Syria and let that imbecile along with McCain and Kerry to fight the damn war with him. Obama can go along to, leading the way.
NC that makes for a beautiful visual.I figure they might last a few seconds at best unless they found a secure area to cower in fear and shyt their pants!
The arrogance of these people is amazing. Despite overwhelming opposition to this Syrian adventure among the public, this traitorous ex-general appeals to our “representatives” to forget about representing us, and kiss Netanyahu’s ass instead.
Patraeus is retired. He should shut his pie-hole, and spend his pension checks at a fishing resort somewhere. No one needed that Zionist ass-kisser when he was working, and we certainly don’t need his advice now.