Petraeus Reports

The head U.S. Military commander in Iraq, Gen. Petraeus began briefing both the Senate Arms Services committee as well as the Senate Foreign Relations committee today. Gen. Petraeus continued to cite positive strides in the growing success of maintaining security in Iraq due to the recent surge of troops. However, he remarked the progress was still fragile and easily reversible.

Throughout his report he was questioned by members of the senate on various issues dealing with the war. However, one in particular stood out. The Democrat from Michigan, Carl Levin. Levin, opened the meeting with intense words and continued to make sharp remarks towards U.S. strategy.

His main point of concern was the responsibility of the Iraqi government. In regards to Gen. Petraeus' suggested strategy of some troop withdrawal, and 45 day assessment period, Levin remarked, that such a move "takes the pressure off Iraqi leaders" to responsibly govern their own country. Levin continued to remark on how and who should now bear the burden of the war citing the billions of dollars the Iraqi government is storing in there treasury from oil revenues.

Levin said that the failure of the Iraqi government to use these billions of dollars "highlights the need to change our current course in order to shift responsibility from our troops and our taxpayers to the Iraqi government, to force that government to take responsibility for their own future -- politically, economically and militarily." Later he advocated a demand to the Iraqi government to begin to bear much more of the burden of rebuilding their country.

While in fact, I do not disagree with Levin's beliefs that the Iraqi government should begin to bear more of the fiscal burden instead of U.S. tax payers, I find his logic comical. Honestly, you have a liberal democrat demanding responsibility? Since when have the democrats demanded or even advocated fiscal responsibility? They certainly do not advocate responsibility to their constituents. Year after year, they run on political platforms advocating government hand out after government hand out. They sponsor complete dependence for their constituents on the hand outs of others, not responsibility.

They base the entire substance of their campaigns on the "importance" of social programs and welfare. Almost the entirety of their supporters would get offended if any boss, or person demanded them to be responsible. No, they have unions to keep that from happening. Responsibility? It would seem that the only time responsibility is important to the democratic party is when it's to further partisan politics instead of producing logical results.