Sens. Kennedy and Kerry Question Gen. Petraeus about Iraq
Petraeus
New Bedford Standard Times
Matthew Huisman
Boston University Washington News Service
April 8, 2008
WASHINGTON – Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., told Gen. David Petraeus that after listening to his testimony Tuesday morning “it seems clear that the administration describes one Iraq, while we see another.
“The president sees an Iraq where progress in neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities across Iraq is being made. But most Americans see an Iraq in which 4 million refugees have been displaced from their homes.”
Gen. Petraeus, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the status of Iraq, said that progress had been made but that the gains could be reversed were there a hasty and reckless pullout of troops.
When questioned by Sen. Kennedy about the potential for a long-term U.S. military commitment in Iraq, the general replied that no long-term commitment has been made.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who also testified before the committee, said that the long-term agreement that the United States is negotiating with Iraq would not establish permanent bases in Iraq.
“The agreement will not specify troop levels, and it will not tie the hands of the next administration,” Ambassador Crocker said.
Sen. Kennedy also asked Gen. Petraeus when he expected Iraqi troops to be able to stand on their own without U.S. military assistance. The general responded that he was unsure when the Iraqi people will be able to take responsibility and fight for themselves.
“Americans want to know after we have spent approximately $24 billion in five years, when these forces are going to be ready and willing to stand up and fight on their own so the Americans don’t have to fight for them,” Sen. Kennedy said.
“[Iraqis] are very much fighting and very much dying for their country,” Gen. Petraeus said. “Their losses are three times our losses.”
Sen. Kennedy said, “It’s time to put the Iraqis on notice that our troops will not remain forever.”
During a separate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., questioned whether the U.S. presence has led to p the Iraqi government’s reluctance to make decisions.
“Has it struck you that this open-endedness, this commitment of large forces without a sense of what the process will be without specific deadlines, actually empowers them to avoid making the decisions and the reconciliations they have to make?” Sen. Kerry asked.
“When we do see movement forward, it’s when leaders and the communities behind them are feeling relatively secure,” Gen. Petraeus said.
“We gave them security with 160,000 troops and we didn’t achieve the political process we needed,” Sen. Kerry said.
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