Don’t Use Iraq Report To Score Political Points« Thread Started on Aug 18, 2007, 12:21am » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Don’t Use Iraq Report To Score Political PointsBy the News-Register POSTED: August 17, 2007read at source> http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/co ... 880.htmlWe wonder sometimes whether anything can be accomplished in Washington, D.C., without politics rearing its ugly head. Apparently not, to judge by a dispute between the White House and some members of Congress.In September, President Bush is to deliver a “progress report” on Iraq to Congress. But some lawmakers have created a controversy over how it will be delivered.Bush has proposed that Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker will deliver a briefing on the report in private. Then, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will discuss the report in an open session of Congress.No way, Bush’s liberal foes have proclaimed. Petraeus cannot be allowed to testify behind closed doors, they insist.Clearly, the White House proposal was intended to provide members of Congress with information that cannot be made public, for security reasons. But the White House appears ready to capitulate to the liberals’ demands. That will mean merely that members of Congress will be deprived of some information concerning Iraq, because Petraeus undoubtedly will refuse to comment on anything that might jeopardize U.S. troops.