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The champagne bottle...

Posted by Smokey Stover on April 09, 2008 at 03:45:

In Reply to: The champagne bottle... posted by ESC on April 08, 2008 at 20:44:

: The champagne bottle has been pushed to the back of the refrigerator.

: Army General David Petraeus testimony -- April 8, 2008.

: (Sen. Evan) BAYH: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, gentlemen, for your patience and your testimony here today, and, most of all, for your service to our country. We may have some differences of opinion about the way forward in Iraq, but none of us question your service to our country or the candor of your testimony today. So I'm grateful to you for that. I have the privilege of serving on the Intelligence Committee as well as the Armed Services Committee. And I'm struck, in reading the most recent national intelligence estimate, which we can't discuss here in detail today, but both reading that and listening to your testimony here today and listening to some of the dialogue about how all of this is subject to differing interpretations. And I would just ask you the question, isn't it true that a fair amount of humility is in order in rendering judgments about the way forward in Iraq, that no one can speak with great confidence about what is likely to occur? Is that a fair observation?

: PETRAEUS: It is very fair, senator, and it's why I repeatedly noted that we haven't turned any corners, we haven't seen any lights at the end of the tunnel. The champagne bottle has been pushed to the back of the refrigerator. And the progress, while real, is fragile and is reversible.

It's a good metaphor, one that I've not heard before. I'm glad you pointed it out.
SS

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