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“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the second Armed Services Committee hearing in the 110th Congress. Last week, the President appeared before the American people and outlined his plan to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq. The next morning, Secretary of Defense Gates and General Pace appeared before the committee and discussed the administration’s plan in greater detail. This hearing today is a follow-on to that one. Today, we will hear perspectives on and alternatives to the President’s plan from our expert witnesses.
“Joining us today are:
· Dr. William Perry, who was the Secretary of Defense under President Clinton and more recently a member of the Iraq Study Group;
· Dr. Lawrence Korb, who served as an Assistant Secretary of Defense from 1981 through 1985 and is at the Center for American Progress today; and
· Dr. Frederick Kagan, former history professor at West Point and now a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
“You all have their full biographies in front of you and I’m sure you’ll agree they are impressive experts in their field. Welcome, gentlemen. We’re looking forward to your insights today.
“Over the last month or so, I have made a point to emphasize that under my chairmanship, this committee would redouble our efforts in pursuing the oversight responsibilities we are charged with under the Constitution. This hearing is an important part that process. We have heard, at some length, the administration’s position on the way forward in Iraq. As we consider that position, it also our responsibility to explore alternatives. We must weigh the pros and cons of each course of action carefully. While ultimately our options to influence the President’s choice may be limited, it does not relieve us of the obligation to fully explore the ramifications of the policy and offer our recommendations accordingly.
“Additionally, by challenging the administration on the specifics of the plan – any plan - we compel them to defend it in detail, warts and all. Where those warts are serious flaws, this process will expose them. The light we shine on them will enable us to correct those problems before we ask our service members to execute a flawed policy again. No longer will this Congress allow any vague statement of a half-formed plan from this or any other administration to pass by without serious questioning – and there will be serious questioning!
“Furthermore, we are a government for the people, by the people. A robust hearing and oversight process gives the American people the opportunity to understand the full range of implications inherent in the policies their government adopts on their behalf. The war in Iraq is the single most critical issue facing the United States today. The outcome of this conflict will have repercussions that affect U.S. national security for decades and will reverberate throughout the Middle East and the rest of the globe. Therefore, it is important that we proceed in a way that allows us to refine our policies and develop the best plan possible, while keeping our citizens fully informed throughout the process.
“At the hearing last week, I was pretty clear about my concerns regarding any type of troop increase. I won’t go back through them today, except to note that we’ve got a real problem on our hands there. It is past time for the Iraqis to assume greater responsibility for their own security. Whatever we chose to do, it needs to contribute to the overarching goal of reducing our force levels there in the next few months. That is how we will continue to watch out for the welfare of our forces and hedge against strategic risk.
“Today, gentlemen, we’re looking forward to hearing what you think is the right way forward in Iraq. But we should not lose sight of the fact that the President has made his choice on what to do and our options from this point on may be limited. Therefore, I hope you spend some time discussing the implications of his plan, your ideas for improving it, and ways to evaluate its success as it moves forward.
“Before I turn it over to the Ranking Member for his comments, let me remind all of you that I intend to adhere strictly to the 5 minute rule. I hope you all learned your lesson last week and remember to ask your question in a way that leaves enough time for the witnesses to answer it within the time limit.
“And now let me introduce Ranking Member Duncan Hunter of San Diego, California.” |