September 18, 2007

Petraeus & Crocker Take Report To U.K.

After a grueling week of testimony, interviews and close public scrutiny in their home country, the top U.S. military and diplomatic officials in Iraq flew to the United Kingdom to face an even tougher crowd.

Even though Britain's contribution in manpower and money to the war in Iraq has been far less than America's, resentment over the war and its costs arguably runs deeper across the pond. Tensions have grown worse since the departure of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, a staunch supporter of President Bush's foreign policies, and the pullout of nearly all British troops from Basra, their last stronghold in Iraq.

But in talks with new Prime Minister Gordon Brown today, U.S. Gen. David Petraeus had nothing but praise for the British armed services and their dedication to the fight in Iraq.

"I have the utmost respect for your military and its excellence," the top U.S. commander in Iraq said today. BBC News reports that Petraeus also "dismissed talk of a split between the U.S. and Britain over the pace of withdrawal of U.K. troops." U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, meanwhile, thanked the British for taking on "extraordinary risk" in the war. The two delivered essentially the same report on the status of the war that they did to the U.S. Congress last week.

Back in the States, Democratic lawmakers continued to tug back on the war. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said four Democratic war amendments would be introduced: one by Jim Webb mandating rest for troops between deployments, one by Russell Feingold mandating an end to combat operations, one by Carl Levin setting a timeline for troop drawdowns, and one by Joseph Biden emphasizing diplomacy in stabilizing Iraq. Republican Sen. Jon Kyl said he didn't think amendments forcing Bush's hand in Iraq would garner enough minority support to get the necessary 60 votes to override veto.

The New York Times and the London Telegraph have more on Petraeus' and Crocker's visit. Today's Poll Track (subscription) has the first U.S. public opinion numbers on the Petraeus report.

National Journal's Brian Friel contributed to this report.

Posted at 2:15 PM
Posted to: David Petraeus, Europe, Gordon Brown, Iraq, Military, U.K.
Share via