Facing the Music

George the Liar is having to eat crow. FWIW I doubt Hannity ever discussed this.

U.S. not winning war, Gates testifies

By Peter Spiegel
Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times
Published December 6, 2006

"Mr. Gates, do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?" asked Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who will become chairman of the Armed Services Committee when Democrats take over Congress in January.

"No, sir," Gates replied, without elaboration.

He later said he agreed with Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who recently said, "We are not winning, but we are not losing."

Gates' assessment, markedly more dismal than any advanced by the administration, conflicted with Bush's own claim as recently as six weeks ago at a White House news conference that "absolutely we're winning."

Gates diverged from administration positions on several occasions during five hours of questioning. He said the U.S. did not use enough troops to stabilize Iraq after the 2003 invasion, erred in liquidating the Iraqi military after its defeat and went too far in removing Baath Party officials from government--three key administration moves blamed for allowing violence and disorder to spread through the country.

Gates, a supporter of the war in 2003, declined to answer a question from Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) whether he now thinks the invasion itself was a good idea.

"Frankly, senator, I think that's a judgment that the historians are going to have to make," Gates said. "Was the decision to go in right? I think it's too soon to tell."

Gates' testimony put the White House on the defensive, forcing the administration to insist that Gates shares Bush's views on the importance of building an Iraqi government that can sustain and defend itself.

"I know that you want to pit a fight between Bob Gates and the president," said White House spokesman Tony Snow. "It doesn't exist."