Liveblog: Petraeus, Crocker & Magical September IV

This is the fourth diary for the testimony of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker before the Joint Full Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee.  Please recommend the first diary by liveblog instead of this one.

Remember for those of use without high speed internet, please DO NOT post pictures, and for those of us at work or unable to connect to the feeds, transcripts and highlights are appreciated.

Coverage is available from CSPAN, CNN said they'd have online video as well.

The next one comes up about every 250 comments or so, so keep a look-out!

Pre-testimony spin by Republicans was touting the 80% drop in violence in Anbar Province. Unfortunately that percentage is meaningless because the actual numbers and methods are classified, and they keep changing the definition of sectarian violence.

So far, Iraqis aren't noticing much of a difference in Baghdad.  At least, That's the impression I got from this piece on CNN.com, which concluded thusly:

The sheik emphasized the gravity of today's horrors, compared with other eras. He and his volunteers don't need military or congressional reports to tell them of progress in Iraq -- for they bear witness.

"Now it's as if the streets are flowing with blood."

Nationally, only 25% think security in their neck of the woods has improved.

Diarists On Deck:

 

5.   OneCrankyDom (maybe)

  6.  joanneleon

  7.  lurks a lot

  8.  Oreo

  9.  kimoconnor

 10.  dotdot
 
 11.  Donnas

Previous live blog diaries:
liveblog
Remembering Jello
Ellicatt