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Incendiary ad about Petraeus infuriates GOP

A newspaper ad that refers to the senior U.S. commander in Iraq as “General Betray Us” has drawn fire from at least two prominent Republican lawmakers who want Democratic leaders in Congress to denounce what they are calling a slap at all service members.

MoveOn.Org, a left-leaning, nonprofit political action group, placed a full-page advertisement in Monday’s edition of The New York Times that asks rhetorically asks if Army Gen. David Petraeus should be called “General Betray Us.” The ad says the commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq has failed to acknowledge that Iraq is mired in an “unwinnable religious war.”

The ad says the message is “not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.”

Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee and a presidential candidate, called the ad a “slap in the face of every member of the armed forces.”

“General Petraeus is an American soldier. His professional life is a reflection of adherence to duty, honor and country,” Hunter said.

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., the Senate Republican Conference chairman, called the ad “repugnant” and “despicable.”

“The Senate had absolute confidence in General Petraeus when it unanimously confirmed him earlier this year. Because of organizations like MoveOn.org and its affiliations with the leftist, liberal wing of the Democratic Party, the question arises whether this ad represents the stance of all Democrats,” Kyl said in a statement. “If not, it is time for the Democratic leadership to announce whether it stands with MoveOn.org or whether it stands behind the general Democrats unanimously confirmed — and his military strategy — to carry out our mission in Iraq.

“I can’t imagine any act more despicable than personally attacking our troops,” Kyl said.

Hunter also called on Democrats to “denounce this advertisement and disassociate themselves from it.”

DISCUSS: The Ad