Petraeus Reports on Progress in Iraq

By Pamela Mortimer

General David Petraeus, the lead military commander in Iraq appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, reporting that there has been "significant but uneven security progress" in Iraq but that the situation remains fragile. Appearing with General Petraeus was Ambassador Ryan Crocker. The meeting was a follow up to President Bush’s 2007 order to send another 30,000 troops into Iraq.

Recent outbursts of fighting in Iraq have raised new concerns regarding the effectiveness of the troops. Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. must shift the burden of repairing Iraq over to its own citizens.

"The purpose of the surge as announced by President Bush last year ... has not been achieved," said Levin, D-MI.

Levin stated that the recent outbreak of fighting in Basra "leads many of us to once again challenge President Bush's policies". The Senator also called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's plans "haphazardly" developed and that the United States must "force that government to take responsibility for their own future."

Levin spoke out ahead of reports that Petraeus would call for holding the number of troops steady once proposed reductions reach their goal of roughly 140,000.

"An open-ended pause starting in July would be just the next page in a war plan with no exit strategy," said Levin.

Senator John McCain stated that he believes Iraq is showing signs of success, and warned that there could be problems if a large number of troops were removed too early.

He said pulling troops out too soon would mean exchanging for victory "a defeat that is terrible and long lasting."

"Since the middle of last year, sectarian and ethnic violence, civilian deaths, and deaths of coalition forces have all fallen dramatically. This improved security environment has led to a new opportunity, one in which average Iraqis can, in the future, approach a more normal political and economic life," said McCain, R-AZ.

"Today, it is possible to talk with real hope and optimism about the future of Iraq and the outcome of our efforts there," he said, warning against a "reckless and irresponsible withdrawal of our forces at the moment when they are succeeding."

Reports predict that Petraeus would relay to that last year's influx of 30,000 troops had helped to relieve some of the sectarian violence but in order to prevent a "backslide in security" it may be necessary to keep a large number of troops until the end of the year.

Democrats argue that Petraeus’ approach will guarantee an ongoing commitment to a war that costs $10 billion a month war while the U.S economy is struggling. Representatives say the rise of violence in Basra, as well as the lack of political progress, shows the U.S. troop buildup has failed.

"We need a strategy that will clearly shift the burden to the Iraqis, that'll begin to take the pressure off our forces, begin to allow us to respond to other challenges in the region and worldwide," said Senator Jack Reed, D-RI, a member of the Armed Services Committee.

Democrats also admit that their efforts are futile when it comes to forcing President Bush's hand on the war. Anti-war legislation has passed in the House but is continually shot down.