Statement on Initial Assessment Report on Iraq

Under legislation passed by Congress in May, the Administration is required to report on progress in Iraq towards eighteen specified benchmarks.  An interim report was released today.  The final report is due on September 15th of this year. 

As I have said since the new Iraq security initiative was announced in January, General David Petraeus and his troops, along with Ambassador Ryan Crocker and his diplomatic colleagues, should be given a chance to fully implement this strategy.   The final brigade of United States troops deployed as part of this effort have been on the ground for only a few weeks, and the consequences of failure in Iraq are too great to not even give the new security plan an opportunity for success. 

The interim report indicates unsatisfactory progress in a number of key areas, including the elimination of militia control of local security, the failure of the Iraqi government to enact legislation related to the distribution of oil revenues, and the failure to reform de-Ba’athification laws.  It indicates satisfactory progress in a number of other areas, including the provision of trained Iraqi brigades to support combat operations in Baghdad and efforts to reduce sectarian violence.  When General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker issue the final report to Congress in September, we will have a much better understanding of whether the new strategy can succeed in both reducing violence in Iraq long-term and creating an atmosphere where Iraqi political reconciliation efforts can move forward.  Ultimately, our role in Iraq today is focused on helping the Iraqis to help themselves.

Our approach towards Iraq must be guided by the facts-on-the-ground, not domestic politics.  The leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives continues to put forth politically-driven legislation that would not give American and Iraqi troops any chance of success.  The latest example of this is H.R. 2956, legislation put forth by House leadership today which would require U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq within 120 days and complete their withdrawal by an arbitrary date of April 1, 2008 regardless of whether the new security iniative is achieving favorable results.  I will vote against this legislation. 

I continually balance the prospects of our political and military success in Iraq against the risks to our own national security if those efforts fail.  During my five visits to Iraq, I have received briefings from commanders and troops on the front lines of this effort, along with Iraqi and civilian leaders.  I also regularly hear from citizens in our community who either support or oppose our nation’s mission in Iraq.  I carefully and thoroughly weigh all such viewpoints as part of my decision-making process.

As this debate continues, I hope that we will stand as one in our support for our troops serving in harm’s way.  They and their families deserve our eternal gratitude and deepest respect.