SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
In the aftermath of a weekend visit to Nevada by General Wesley Clark, Sen. Harry Reid’s campaign attempted to spin the majority leader’s infamous “this war is lost” statement.
Jarrod Agen, communications director for U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle, released the following statement in response to the assertion that Reid had been in agreement with General David Petraeus’ assessment on the Iraq war:
“Senator Harry Reid has spent years openly mocking General David Petraeus and his strategy for success in Iraq. Reid declared the Iraq war lost, claimed General Petraeus was a liar, voted in support of MoveOn’s assertion that his nickname was ‘General Betray Us’ and from his penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton claimed the four-star general was out of touch with reality in Baghdad. To add further insult, Sen. Reid celebrated failure in Iraq by telling one of his colleagues that the Democrats were going to pick up seats because of the Iraq war,” said Agen.
“For anyone to claim that Senator Reid was in agreement with General Petraeus’ strategy for success in Iraq is preposterous and completely disingenuous. Instead, it’s a political calculation to fool the voters in Nevada of Sen. Reid’s extreme belief that our country cannot win the War on Terror,” Agen concluded.
Angle’s press secretary Jerry Stacy said it was noteworthy to point out that Reid refused to stand with the majority of members in the Senate in voting for an amendment that called for condemnation of “personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.”
Background
Senator Harry Reid’s campaign. “Senator Reid’s comment was in agreement with General Petraeus’ assessment that the Iraq war could not be won by military force alone and that a political solution was also needed as part of a two-part strategy–which President Bush refused to pursue,” said Zac Petkanas, deputy communications director for the Friends of Harry Reid.” (Ray Hager, Gen. Clark praises Harry Reid, defends Reid’s “war is lost” comment, Reno Gazette-Journal, 08/07/10)
Fact check: Senator Harry Reid on General David Petraeus and Iraq
· Harry Reid Said “That This War Is Lost.” REID: “Now, I believe myself that the secretary of State, the secretary of Defense–and you have to make your own decision as to what the president knows–that this war is lost and that the surge is not accomplishing anything, as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday.” (U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Press Conference, 04/19/07)
· On Gen. Petraeus: “He’s Made A Number Of Statements Over The Years That Have Not Proven To Be Factual. I have every belief that this good man, General Petraeus, will give us what he feels is the right thing to do in this report–that is now not his report, it’s President Bush’s report.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 09/07/07)
· “I Don’t Believe Him.” Q: “…General Petraeus is going to come to the Hill and make it clear to you that there is progress going on in Iraq, that the so-called surge is working. Will you believe him when he says that?” SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “No, I don’t believe him, because it’s not happening. All you have to do is look at the facts.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 04/23/07)
· “[He] Isn’t In Touch With What’s Going On In Baghdad.” “And for someone, whether it’s General Petraeus or anyone else, to say things are great in Baghdad isn’t in touch with what’s going on in Baghdad, even though he’s there and I’m not.” (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 06/14/07)
· “[Petraeus’ Report] Will Pass Through The White House Spin Machine, Where Facts Are Often Ignored Or Twisted, And Intelligence Is Cherry-Picked.” REID: “This week, President Bush will send General Petraeus to Congress to report on the war–but before the report arrives in Congress, it will pass through the White House spin machine, where facts are often ignored or twisted, and intelligence is cherry-picked.” (Sen. Reid, Democratic Radio Response To The President’s Weekly Radio Address, 09/08/07)
· “We Are Going To Pick Up Senate Seats As A Result Of This War” REID: “We are going to pick up Senate seats as a result of this war … Senator Schumer has shown me numbers that are compelling and astounding.” (Shailagh Murray, “Reid Sees Gains on Iraq,” The Washington Post, 04/13/07)
· Twenty-Five Senate Democrats Voted Against Condemning MoveOn.Org Ad Attacking Gen. Petraeus As “Gen. Betray Us.” (S.Amdt. 2934, Roll Call Vote #344: Passed 72-25: R: 49-0, D: 23-25, 9/20/07)
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00344
