Petraeus Blocked

Republicans may talk a lot about listening to the generals, but multiple outlets, and seemingly multiple sources, as well, are claiming the administration wouldn't let General David Petraeus pursue a policy of engagement with Syria:

"Apparently Gen. David Petraeus does not agree with the Bush administration that the road to Damascus is a dead end...

"ABC News has learned, Petraeus proposed visiting Syria shortly after taking over as the top U.S. commander for the Middle East.

"The idea was swiftly rejected by Bush administration officials at the White House, State Department and the Pentagon."

This comes via Joshua Landis, who adds:

"The following “Exclusive” ABC story is not so exclusive. Syria Comment has been writing since August 2008 that Petraeus tried to go to Damascus in the fall of 2007, but was refused permission by the Vice President. It wasn’t the president. (That little bit of info is an SC exclusive told to me by a top intelligence officer.)"

(Crossposted to American Footprints)