Senate Passes Amendment supporting General Petraeus

and U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq and Repudiating the Attack on General Petraeus by MoveOn.org

September 20, 2007

Today the U.S. Senate approved by a vote of 72 – 25 (3 not voting) an amendment by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 expressing the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all members of the United States Armed Forces.

General David Petraeus and our troops in Iraq

Senate Amendment 2934, Mr. CORNYN

   SEC. 1070. SENSE OF SENATE ON GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS.

    (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following findings:

    (1) The Senate unanimously confirmed General David H. Petraeus as Commanding
General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, by a vote of 81-0 on January 26, 2007.

    (2) General Petraeus graduated first in his class at the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

    (3) General Petraeus earned Masters of Public Administration and Doctoral degrees in international relations from Princeton University.

    (4) General Petraeus has served multiple combat tours in Iraq, including command of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during combat operations throughout the first year of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which tours included both major combat operations and subsequent stability and support operations.

    (5) General Petraeus supervised the development and crafting of the United States Army and Marine Corps counterinsurgency manual based in large measure on his combat experience in Iraq, scholarly study, and other professional experiences.

    (6) General Petraeus has taken a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

    (7) During his 35-year career, General Petraeus has amassed a distinguished and unvarnished record of military service to the United States as recognized by his receipt of a Defense Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Service Medals, two Defense Superior Service Medals, four Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the State Department Superior Honor Award, the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, and other awards and medals.

    (8) A recent attack through a full-page advertisement in the New York Times by the liberal activist group, Moveon.org, impugns the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all the members of the United States Armed Forces.

    (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate--

    (1) to reaffirm its support for all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, including General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq;

    (2) to strongly condemn any effort to attack the honor and integrity of General Petraeus and all the members of the United States Armed Forces; and

    (3) to specifically repudiate the unwarranted personal attack on General Petraeus by the liberal activist group Moveon.org.

How they voted:

Shockingly 25 Democrats voted AGAINST the Cornyn Amendment supporting General Petraeus and our troops and repudiating MoveOn.org for its despicable attack on the General’s personal integrity and honor.  Among the Senators voting against the Cornyn amendment (i.e. voting in favor of MoveOn.org assertion that General Petraeus is guilty of lying and treason) were Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Byrd (D-WV), Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), 2004 Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA), 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary Candidate Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary Candidate Senator Hillary Clinton.

Choosing not to cast a vote on the Cornyn Amendment were 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary Candidates Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Barack Obama (D-IL).

Senate Roll Call Vote on Cornyn Amendment SA 2924, September 20, 2007

Grouped By Vote Position