“Like most Americans, I’m eager to hear what General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have to say about military and political progress in Iraq. These men have spent decades mastering their respective professional fields. They deserve our respect.” -Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell
Mark and I are both at work… So feel free to talk about the hearings… give us the details of the Democrats’ defeatist grandstanding… Let’s have it.
UPDATE: Snippets of Patreus’s remarks:
Since September, levels of violence and civilian deaths have been reduced substantially, Al Qaeda-Iraq and a number of other extremist elements have been dealt serious blows, the capabilities of Iraqi Security Force elements have grown, and there has been noteworthy involvement of local Iraqis in local security. Nonetheless, the situation in certain areas is still unsatisfactory and innumerable challenges remain. Moreover, as events in the past two weeks have reminded us and as I have repeatedly cautioned, the progress made since last spring is fragile and reversible.
And yet, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton want to retreat.
A number of factors have contributed to the progress that has been made. First, of course, has been the impact of increased numbers of Coalition and Iraqi Forces. You are well aware of the U.S. surge. Less recognized is that Iraq has also conducted a surge, adding well over 100,000 additional soldiers and police to the ranks of its security forces in 2007 and slowly increasing its capability to deploy and employ these forces.
So, the surge is working and Iraqis are standing up and doing their part.
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