About 15 hours into the two-day marathon testimonies, one senator asked Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker: “Are you looking forward to returning to Baghdad right now?”  Both men chuckled.  As I listened to portions of their testimony on NPR, it was clear their voices were strained an exhausted.  They had delivered  their message. Well, that’s what they told us.  The general several times made it clear when he was expressing his ‘personal’ opinion.  

Even without Karl Rove full-time in the White House, it has become clear that the past week has been a well orchestrated messaging campaign to bolster Bush and the Republican’s 2008 presidential plans.  There are several events that tell me this is part of a political strategy, using all forms of the media to play along.

1) Strategic leaks about the contents of the so-called ‘Petraeus Report.”  This is happening even though the Administration has been known for squelching any leaks, and punishing those who participate in such activities.  I guess if the President is the source leaking the information, it’s OK.

2) Bin Laden releases two videotapes, praising one of the 9-11 terrorists.  Don’t you thing the CIA – or whichever department gets these tapes – had to have time to validate and translate these tapes.  Has anyone in the media asked, “where are these tapes coming from?” and “why are they being released now?”

3) The sixth anniversary of 9-11 memorials around the country, recognizing the nation’s worst day in history.

4) The White House and Pentagon asking for tens of billions of dollars more for the Iraq war.

5) Oil prices reaching record highs at the same time Hunt Oil announces it’s signed a deal to set up shop in Iraq to dig for oil.

6) President Bush announcing that he’ll make a national address praising the work of Petraeus, Crocker and the armed forces for their good work in “fighting the war on terror” and ‘defending freedom”. He may even talk about withdrawing some troops – next year.

So, put my cynicism aside for a moment. At the end of the day, Petraeus and Crocker get an A+ for standing strong in the midst of the congressional storm.  They let the congressmen and senators make their ’soapbox’ statements, ask their often snide and repetitive questions, then coolly responded like the career military and diplomats they are.  

 The fact is they were telling the truth: To acheive success in Iraq, American troops will have to say in Iraq for an indefinite amount of time.  Yes, just like Vietnam, there is no easy way out.  Just like Gen. Colin Powell has said, ‘we broke it, we pay for it, we fix it.”  The president is not  going to say that; Democrats and many Republicans and yes, the media, would tell you this off the record that they know there’s no way out. 

But like any good PR campaign, Bush and his advisers are staying on message – whichever that message that might be.  And for now, Bush has to thank Petraeus and Crocker for helping him deliver the words he will never express.  Thanks to the media who timidly lacks the guts to proudly serve its ‘checks and balance’ role.

Perhaps the best analogy that the media, Congress and the American people have just know begun to question is the goal post analogy.  That is, the ’surge’ began with one goal, and a bright-eyed public saw the goal post. Then six months later, the goal post has been moved further away. Now, we’re told sometime in about a year, we will have results – sort of.  Hmmm, Fall 2008, our troops will still be Iraq.  And just like in 2004, the presidential race will be determined on who is the most patriotic, and not who is necessarily the best person and the most patriotic.

That’s my message, and I’m sticking to it.