Issue Statements
Iraq
On April 8, 2008, U.S. Army General David Petraeus, the commander of coalition forces in Iraq, updated Congress on the situation in Iraq. In this report, General Petraeus told Congress:
Security in Iraq is better than it was when Ambassador Crocker and I reported to you last September, and it is significantly better than it was 15 months ago when Iraq was on the brink of civil war and the decision was made to deploy additional US forces to Iraq.
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.
I have been vocally critical of the current Administration for the many mistakes made in Iraq following the 2003 invasion and continue to believe that more needs to be done to push a process of political reconciliation. In my current assessment, however, the “surge” strategy that began in early 2007 has yielded dramatic strategic gains against Al Qaeda in Iraq and other insurgents, created an extended window for reconciliation to take place, and, as General Petraeus noted, has allowed the Iraqi government to continue building its security forces. Importantly, we have also seen U.S. military force levels fall below the levels seen during the height of the surge.
Earlier this year, the North County Times in an article titled “Marine commander 'stunned' by Anbar progress” wrote:
Maj. Gen. John Kelly also said he is amazed at the progress he sees on what is his third tour of duty in Anbar since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. "It is remarkable what has gone on in the last year in the province," Kelly said during a teleconference from Baghdad. "It is stunning to me, but it is not over yet." Kelly said that as the Iraqis assume control, he plans to recommend closing some of the larger U.S. bases in the western province along the border with Syria and Jordan.
Even with the success of the surge in Iraq that has been widely acknowledged by military leaders, independent experts, and media analysis, ideologically driven rhetoric that our military is failing in Iraq has continued. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) described the approach of his former Democratic Party Colleagues as "hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, and most of all, speak of no progress in Iraq."
With a new U.S. President taking office in January 2009, Iraqi leaders know that America ’s commitment is not open-ended and that violence in Iraq will ultimately have to end through a reconciliation process. In this regard, the Government of Iraq still has much work to do.
Failure in Iraq, however, would have disastrous consequences. America, over the last century, has time and again been drawn into major world conflicts we initially sought to avoid. While we are already conducting significant operations in Iraq and Afghanistan , we must soberly assess the dangers accompanying alternative solutions to our current course of action in the region.
The dangers of a culture in the Middle East that discounts the value of human life and respect for human rights has been seen in the actions of Al Qaeda, many past and current regimes in the region, and Iraqi society. This culture, which has killed thousands of Americans at home and abroad and taken many more innocent Arab lives, pre-dates the 1991 Gulf War, the 9/11 attacks, and the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Leaving Iraq will not neutralize the threat this culture poses to America , the region, and fundamental freedoms of democratic societies.
Creating a stable Iraq , while elusive, remains possible. America has a military presence in Germany dating back to World War II, a military presence in Korea dating to the Korean War, and I expect America will continue to maintain a military force in the Middle East for the foreseeable future.
Success is not leaving the Middle East, but creating an Iraq that embraces a different culture, different values, and transforming the role of our military in Iraq to a much smaller force that does not face the day-to-day dangers they do today. As a Member of Congress serving on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, I will continue my efforts to actively evaluate the situation in the Middle East and to meet with military leaders, diplomats, and foreign leaders about our best course of action.
