"I don't know, actually. . . ."

This was our commanding general's answer today at a Senate hearing when Sen. John Warner (R-VA) asked Gen. Petraeus whether the course he is proposing we continue in Iraq "will make America safer." [Emphasis in original]

Obviously if the general thinks the answer is "yes," he would have said so.

Instead, he said, "I don't know, actually. I have not sat down and sorted out in my mind. . . ."

He should have, three years ago, or resigned. And he's not alone. Maybe if our generals had had integrity, they could have stopped this president, who has none either.

This is a shameful day in a long series of shameful days leading to and continuing the slaughter in Iraq. First, we were told we had to invade Iraq to make America safer, because Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. When it turned out he didn't, we were told it was necessary to remain in Iraq to make America safer, because Al Qaeda was there. We know now Al Qaeda was NOT in Iraq until after we invaded Iraq. Next we were told that we have to remain in Iraq to make it a democracy, because if it isn't a democracy, it will threaten America. Now we are told we have to stay in Iraq because if we leave it will threaten America. But we don't know for sure.

Our commanding general can't say for sure. The very most he can say is. "I don't know, actually. . . . I haven't sat down and sorted it out in my own mind. . . ."

The only position of integrity for a general who can't support his troops' mission is resignation. The only position of integrity for a Congress confronted with this history is to impeach the administration responsible for our being here.