Patraeus Testifies - Says Nothing!

Watching CNN this afternoon I saw Senator Barack Obama question General Patraeus and Ambassador Crocker. He asked what I consider the big question, which is to define the achievable goal for Iraq. He asked if the status quo, given the problems that still exist and the messy business of creating a democracy, could be considered a successful outcome in Iraq.

Crocker reiterated that the process is still in progress, etc. and basically did not answer the question. Obama wanted a definition of what it would take to get us out of Iraq and Patraeus and Crocker responded with nothing. The answer is that there is no answer because the Bush strategy is not to ever leave.

My opinion is that Bush and his business partners are making far too much money on the war to end it. A quagmire has been amazingly profitable for the defense industries and by driving oil prices to new records gives the energy companies a phenomenal profit boost. Of course this is what Bush was elected to do. As a tool of these business interests he has paid dividends in spades!

Meanwhile, Baghdad is under a lockdown to stem violence.