FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             CONTACT: Kevin Lawlor, 202/225-1880

September 10, 2007                                                                                        www.tauscher.house.gov

Rep. Ellen Tauscher Dismayed By Gen. Petraeus’ Report to Congress

Labels Surge a Tactic, Not a Strategy and Urges Lifting the “Green Zone Fog”

Washington, DC – Rep. Ellen Tauscher, Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding today’s joint hearing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the status of the war and political developments in Iraq.  The committees received testimony from: General David Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq; and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.  

“After a first hand visit to Iraq a few weeks ago where signs of Iraqi reconciliation were scarce, and a grim National Intelligence Estimate followed by dismal reports from the nonpartisan GAO and the independent commission led by General Jones, it is disheartening to hear an analysis that seems out of touch with both reality and the prevailing thought about when we should remove our troops from Iraq’s civil war. 

“The surge is a tactic, not a strategy.  We cannot wait another year for the so-called surge to straighten its learning curve.  At a cost of $330 million per day, increasing troop casualties, and continuing ethnic strife, we cannot continue to accept minor security increases as indicators of a sound policy for continued engagement in Iraq’s civil war.”

Click here for General Petraeus' Written Testimony >>

Click Here for General Petraeus' Slides >>