Foreign Affairs Hearing on Iraq Escalation
June 27th, 2007 by Jesse LeeThe Foreign Affairs Committee is currently holding a hearing, “Iraq: Is the Escalation Working?” Witnesses will include Major General John Batiste, USA, Retired; Mr. Anthony H. Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Frederick W. Kagan, Resident Scholar
at the American Enterprise Institute.
Chairman Tom Lantos gives opening remarks:
Chairman Lantos: “I want to discuss what makes the most sense for Iraq, for the region, and for American forces. No more illusions. We must banish the mirages and take a clear eyed view of where we are and where we go from here.” |
Rep. Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, gives opening remarks:
Chairman Ackerman: “The President said in January, and I quote him, ‘America’s commitment is not open ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises it will lose the support of the American people, and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people,’ so said the President. Been there, done that, time to go.” |
Major General John Batiste, USA, Retired, gives opening testimony:
General Batiste: “The current surge in Iraq is too little, too late. The government of Iraq is incapable of stepping up to its responsibilities. Our nation has yet to mobilize to defeat a very serious threat, which has little to do with Iraq. And it’s past time to refocus our national strategy and begin a deliberate withdrawal of U.S. forces.” |