This afternoon (US time), I had the opportunity to participate in a conference call with three Congressman currently in Baghdad. The delegation is there to review the situation on the ground and determine how much progress is being made on security and political goals. Of particular interest, Mr. Hoekstra mentioned the intention to follow up on some intelliefnce In Baghdad w/ King & Hoekstra Now that they have testified, we are here to get a first hand look of what ‘s going – the gains that made and hte reductions in violence the gains in political progress at a local level thank our troops for their service on behalf of King: met with odieron and the diplomatic people and spoken to troops on the ground. strong consensus that Petraeus is on target doing a lot over the next severaldays so far has been very productive Hoekstra: objective here is to balance off the testimony that we got from general petraues and ambassador crocker, but will also be going to other places in middle east to look at threat from radiucal jihadists in pakistan and afghanistan as well. go to front line and forward operating stations – see us and iraqi troops working together. walk the streets of fallujah or ramadi. hope to see that transformation in person. in Afghanistan and Pakistan checking on early intel that we cannot discuss today AQ picks battles strategically thinks ahead about where it will go need to keep finger on the pulse on what AQ is thinking of doing in Afghanistan and Pakistan can’t go just ot IRaq got to go to other places where AQ has an interest and has attacked before and is part of hteir plan for the future Boehner: our numer one enemy in Iraq is AQ. AQ & related groups pose the greatest threat that we face today. Clearly tied to the groups that made 9/11 occur. kucinich’s trip to Syria and criticism for the US and our actions in IRaq Americans are protected under bill of rights. Success in iraq is critical for national interest and national security – for future of my kids and their kids. what we are doing on in IRaq will serve america’s best national interrst and provide hte national security we need for today and tomorrow. what we have seen on the ground is that the progress in anbar is starting to sperad to provinces closer to baghdad which will encourage greater reconciliation on the national level. Disappointemdnet with Maliki – but the no-confidence vote never occurred – all groups began to realize that there was no better option. Will need those groups to come together. what we expect to see is the type of real political difference that will have lasting consequences. PH – need better handle on benchmarks — pleasant surprise is that there is local reconciliation taking place. Happening in Anbar, appears to be happening in Basra — local groups rejecting AQ and working reconciliation at local level – working with coalition going forward. Expected political reconciliation to start in Baghdad and work down, but what may not be happening in Baghdad may be happening at the local level . Another item — haven’t yet probed — but other nations in the region (Saudis, Kuwaiyis, Jordanians) taking more of a stake in promoting long-term solution in Iraq. Pushing for a while. some steps starting to happen. PK — pleasantly surprised that Maliki government many be more cognizant of what they need to do. Word from the US side that Maliki is much more responsive than is the feeling in Washington. Sunni tribal leaders who were ready to flip, now willing to ally with the coalition. Obvious that the coalition has opened its doors and the Sunni leaders came through it. Did hear this in 2006 from tribal leaders; the have helped. Why should think this turn of the corner is different. Odierno covered the political reconciliation that is happening in places other than Anbar. Do we have a long way to go? yes – will it be easy? absolutely not – but critical for the us in short and long term. what will congress do – Boehner committed to following hte plan outlined by Petraeus. Hopeful that we will see more success and get more of our troops home ASAP. King: Would be irresponsible to pull the plug while real progress is being made, and all indications are that the progress is being made. We owe it to the troops and the country — while ensuring that progress continue to be made Petraeus plan: Withdraw 25% of troops over next 9 months US troops in het lead will significantly decrease Feb/March time frame — next update — expecting by March to announce additional troop withdrawals based on strategy in place. No judgment on what the number will be Petraeus strategy is the best of those out there. Not sure there is another strategy as well thought out with as clear objectives and tactics. boehner investted all political captial in failrure in iraq, and now that we have success I’m not sure they have any place to go – not sure they know where they’re going. if they try to moev toward the president, the left anti-war will not let them go — s0 im not sure where they go – but i think there’s a majority of hte member s in the hous and senate who beleive that success is vital PK – honest people can have honest difference bu the pay ‘s credfibilityr was dramatically damage wneh they refused to disonw the moveon ad moveon is not somne fringe organization — it ‘s an important part of the democratic party – the fact that they were unable to disown that ad shows that they have lost all intellectual and moral credibil;ity on iran we need to be focuseed on iran because they contiunue efforts to destabilise progerss we are making here in iraq how do we deal with theyid destabilizin efforts here in iraq — how do we deal with that most effectively – must work with regional nations, european allies and russi to make sure we do not end up with a nuclear iran. lots of strategci development and negotiation to get there – do not see us in a war with iran in the next 12 months. an issue that the us needs to lead on – we will lead on – putting pressure on iran met with at least a dozen military and diplomatic officials here in iraq — among those we have met with thus far, there is clear progress being made on the ground. based on more han talking to a fre people for a fw hoursw
