Petraeus assuages lawmakers’ fears over report

Gen. David Petraeus, who is scheduled to brief Congress in two weeks on the progress in Iraq, assured lawmakers this week that the administration is not involved in the writing of his report, according to a lawmaker who has recently returned from the region.

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), told reporters Thursday that Petraeus said he and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker had briefed the administration on the situation in Iraq, but added that “as far as [Petraeus] is concerned … he is writing his recommendations of that report and testimony.”

{mosads}Democrats had loudly expressed their concerns in recent weeks that the White House would try to prevent Petraeus and Crocker from testifying in public or that administration officials would modify the recommendations.

Meek led the congressional delegation to Iraq and Kuwait, which also included Reps. Charles Boustany Jr. (R-La.), Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) and Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.).

“I have the utmost confidence, after speaking with him and seeing his commitment to this report, that what you hear in his testimony and what he says is going to be from his heart,” Altmire said. “I don’t think there’s going to be any fingerprints from the White House political office on General Petraeus’ comments. I hope that the White House political machine will let those comments speak for themselves.”

However, Altmire added that there is some concern that the White House “spin machine” will kick into gear after the report is delivered to slant its findings and make it more favorable for the administration.

The Democratic participants of the delegation lauded U.S. troops but had harsh words for the Iraqi government.

“By almost every measure of progress, they have not only failed to progress; they have, in many cases, gone backwards,” Altmire said. “Our military cannot win the political situation in Iraq because that’s an Iraqi government decision: how they’re going to run their government, when they’re going to step up and manage their own affairs.”