Washington, DC (September 10, 2007) – Today, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement on Gen. David Petraeus’s and Ambassador Ryan Crocker’s testimonies before a joint Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Iraq:

“The President claimed that this surge would provide “breathing room” for the Iraqi government so that it could make much-needed political changes. While I do not dispute Gen. Petraeus’s conclusion that the surge has brought marginal security improvements, it has done little to reconcile the country’s battling factions. A few fleeting military successes cannot be equated with real strategic progress.

“Gen. Petraeus testified that the surge could last through next summer, which I find unacceptable given the current conditions in Iraq. I see no credible sign that the Iraqi government is any more capable of establishing a peaceful, democratic, and united country than before the surge. The country continues to be plagued by substantial violence and its government has failed to show any ability to handle the bloody sectarian strife.

“Last week’s non-partisan Government Accountability Office report only highlighted the country’s grave situation. It revealed that the Iraqi government has met only three out the 18 benchmarks for political and military success outlined by the President earlier this year. Even Ambassador Ryan Crocker admitted that ‘2006 was a bad year in Iraq’ and that he ‘cannot guarantee success in Iraq.’

“Today’s progress report does not change the fact that our troops are still caught in the crossfire of a bloody civil war that has no end in sight. Our men and woman have done an extraordinary job despite the immense challenges and strain thrust upon them. It is time for the Administration to honor their sacrifice and provide a clear path toward redeployment.”