General Pelosi or House Speaker?
General Pelosi or House Speaker?
Pelosi Has a Checkered History When it Comes to Second Guessing Military Generals, but Still Won’t Call for McChrystal to Testify
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“Nancy Pelosi has a habit of attempting to dictate the country’s military strategy despite a long and undecorated track record of being on the wrong side of the debate when it comes to defense and national security. This is the same San Francisco liberal who attempted to undercut General David Petraeus by declaring his successful surge strategy a ‘failure.’ Despite previous Democrat claims on the campaign trail that Afghanistan is the ‘real central front’ in the war on terror, Pelosi is backtracking and at odds with members of her own party over allowing General McChrystal an opportunity to testify before Congress.” – NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain |
Pelosi Has Often Cited The Threat Posed By The Taliban In Afghanistan:
“President Bush’s failed Iraq policies have handed the terrorists a useful recruiting tool and limited our ability to respond to security challenges elsewhere in the region and the world… Fighting the wrong war in Iraq has not ended the threat posed by al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies in Afghanistan, nor has it brought Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to justice.” (Pelosi Statement, 9/05/2006)
Now, Pelosi Is Backpedaling Amidst Increasing Criticism From The Radical Left:
“‘I’ve also made it clear it’s a very difficult vote to get from the members,” she added. ‘Their constituents don’t like an escalated war in Afghanistan. They’d like to see a different approach. But let’s see what the president has to say.’” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi skeptical about Afghan surge, McChrystal,” Politico, 10/05/2009)
Pelosi Has Previously Made Thinly Veiled Attempts to Bully Generals in Order to Manipulate The Outcome Of Testimonies:
“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Thursday not to ‘put a shine on recent events’ in Iraq when they testify before Congress next week… ‘I hope we don’t hear any glorification of what happened in Basra,’ said Pelosi, referring to a recent military offensive against Shiite militants in the city led by the Iraqi government and supported by U.S. forces.” (Daniel Reilly, “Pelosi warns Petraeus on Iraq testimony,” Politico, 4/04/2008)
Taking On Respected Military Leaders In The Process:
“Pelosi may not get much more warmth from the American military leaders she plans to meet either. Pelosi argued against sending additional surge forces to Iraq, a plan overseen by Gen. David Petraeus that is now widely credited with reducing the levels of violence in Iraq.” (Mark Kukus and Mark Baghdad, “Pelosi Gets Quiet Reaction in Iraq,” Time, 5/17/2008)
Despite Agreeing With General Petraeus On Troop Removal, Pelosi Insisted Her Strategy Was Best:
“Pelosi’s plan to withdraw troops from Iraq is decidedly different from the suggestions outlined in Petraeus’ testimony regarding the end of the war. ‘Gen. Petraeus made it clear the choice is for a responsible redeployment, drawing down of our forces out of Iraq in the near term for a 10-year or more commitment to a war without end. That’s where he is. We are someplace else,’ Pelosi said. She told Roberts what the war needs is the opposite — a responsible deployment of troops out of Iraq. Pelosi added, however, that some troops must remain, ‘leaving enough troops there to fight the terrorists and to protect our embassy with a minimal force there to end the occupation of Iraq.’” (“GMA Exclusive: Interview With Nancy Pelosi,” ABC News, 9/12/2007)
In Light Of Her Newfound Passion For Military Strategy, Why Hasn’t The Speaker Called On General McChrystal To Testify like Her Counterpart Steny Hoyer?:
“House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is backing Republican calls for Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the ground commander in Afghanistan, to testify before Congress about troop increases and strategy shifts in the war… ‘I think it would be useful at some point in time for Gen. McChrystal to share with Congress, both the Senate and the House, his views and proposals,’ Hoyer told reporters Tuesday morning.” (Jake Sherman, “Steny Hoyer: Stanley McChrystal should testify,” Politico, 9/22/2009)
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