Summary

Monday, September 10, 2007 CANNON ROTUNDA STAKEOUT: PETRAEUS & CROCKER PRESSER RS24/X80/Slugged: 1645 & 1810 PETRAEUS SO X80 Slugged: 1645 PETRAEUS SO X80 16:58:27 Rep Tom Lantos exits hearing Slugged: 1815 PETRAEUS SO X80 18:46:12 Duncan Hunter, Ike Skelton, Gen David Petraeus exiting 18:47:12 Petraeus & Skelton talking off-mic, ts 18:47:33 REP IKE SKELTON: we just concluded the hearing w/ Petraeus & Crockeradmiration for the general and American troops, commands and great deal of appreciation for their work 18:48:00 America's finest, thank you Very difficult, unanswered question, Iraqi political nature Thank you 18:48:21 REP DUNCAN HUNTER: let me just say, very important hearing Listened to, reassessing their positions I hope that reassessing in many cases in support of this policy 18:48:43 Our 2 leaders, lots of facts that reflect this surge is working, things are much better, in Anbar Province 18:48:59 that dynamic spreading throughout, thank you 18:49:18 no short questions, commend chairman In depth answer 18:49:33 Petraeus & Crocker shakes hands with Hunter & Skelton Q&A 18:49:47 GEN DAVID PETRAEUS: Up to the keepers of the Washington clock Provide forthright assessment of situation Explain where progress, recognize where there was no progress More needs to be done 18:50:18 what we laid out, is in many cases, where in fact significant progress particularly since surge since June I mention 8 of past 12 weeks, fewer incidents 18:50:44 not since April, having said, talked about where there have been reductions Civilian deaths, sectarian violencelevels are still unacceptable, area we must work Damage done, in 2006 2007 was very serious 18:51:14 still many problems as a result of the fabric of society 18:51:32 I do not thank you 18:51:48 I did not provide optimistic words An assessment Iraq is real hard Very clear the challenges at the political level, we are working of course on the ground, military, Iraqi counterparts 18:52:11 opportunity for Iraqi leaders achieve reconciliation Tried to do, localprogress, the ambassador explained effectively, where it worked and where it needs to be worked 18:52:52 Mid-March on next summerNot been accepted, recommended, start this month, redeploymentSeptember without replacement Redeployment, mid- december, we could've run surgebattlefield 18:53:34 reduction of 5 army brigades, 2 marine battalions, very substantial We have recommended that, until mid-July, it is not something I can sit here nowin September and say I can say where we will be in next July, year away, and offer some sense of how to draw forces down 18:54:07 did state, we will beyond that pointdidn't state what applied path will be Prediction, assessment or recommendation at this point in time 18:54:40 RYAN CROCKER: optimistic, best assessment I can Trajectory is moving up, political, economic and diplomatic activity A lot of problems out there We are seeing bottoms up both security and political developments 18:55:16 In Diyala for example, linkages to develop between center and provinces, also good Economic progresscentral gov't to make budget allocations to the problems, increase provinces to spend money they get 18:55:43 we see indications efforts on national level, what kind of shape the new Iraq is going to take The more harder, tremendous levels of violence Putting all this together, It think we are making progressnot right around the corner 18:56:23 enough going around that is promising 18:56:28 thank you