Mission Accomplished [UPDATED]
Let me get this straight. We've increased our troop presence in Iraq under a "surge" strategy that we are supposed to believe in because it's being led by one of the great military men of ability and integrity, Gen. Petraeus. If it failed to meet its objectives, he would tell us and we're going to listen to his report and recommendations in September to guide war strategy going forward. Except that he's not really going to write the report, the White House is. And, oh yeah, they don't want the public to actually hear from him as he answers questions from Congress.

Senior congressional aides said yesterday that the White House has proposed limiting the much-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill next month of Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker to a private congressional briefing, suggesting instead that the Bush administration's progress report on the Iraq war should be delivered to Congress by the secretaries of state and defense.

They really think they should be able to script everything don't they? Even while assuring us they're not in charge - it's the Generals, on the ground, you see.

[UPDATE: Via DKos, Harry Reid responds - something to the effect of "hell no." Kevin Drum thinks this was never a serious proposal, just a negotiating tactic to play down expectations.]