Senate Hearing on Iraq

[WheresWaldo]

Live, not being covered by CSPAN, available online from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee homepage
http://foreign.senate.gov/
link from there to watch live.
Amb. Khalilizad being grilled by dems now... including Kerry.

[WheresWaldo]

1. khalilzad talking about Iran now

There are some positive elements to Iran Iraq relationship. Two tracks. one good, one bad.
US made offer to talk to Iran about Iraq.
US not seeking hostile relationship between Iran and Iraq.
US wants peace internally (iraq) and regionally.
Goal in Iraq is internal security and peaceful relations with neighbors.
Focus on Iran now on nuclear issue
must see how things evolve.
cant rule out engagement with iran on iraq

[WheresWaldo]

2. Sen Boxer

reading:
arab paper reports

[WheresWaldo]

3. Sen. boxer

quotes zalmay "Sunnis have shifted"
quotes iraqi sunnis "things are getting worse, parliament cant find solutions, govt is going to collapse"
quotes shiite "start of civil war"

Boxer: how do you square your rosy view with iraqi views
constituents believe we need a timetable to get out
we won the war
now its up to iraqis

[Terran1212]

27. I'll tell ya how you square 'em Boxer

Khalizad is a complete tool.

[WheresWaldo]

4. Zalmays response to Boxers querry

"I call it like I see it"
Situation described is a difference of view
Sectarianism is the dominant view
Fact of unity govt. however including Sunnis, has led to terrorists adapting and promoting Sectarian violence.

[WheresWaldo]

5. Sen. Feingold

American people feel misled
we;ve lost 2500 service men and women, hundreds of thousands of $
seemingly endless presence in iraq
hurts our national security
not contributing to stability in iraq

[shadowknows69]

6. Go Russ

n/t

[shadowknows69]

8. Great question

If we're doing so well in training the Iraqi army why do we need to be there.

[WheresWaldo]

7. asks zalmay

when can majority of US troops be withdrawn?
Zalmay: when I go back, joint US-Iraqi group formed to discuss way forward and draw down of US forces.
we have elected iraqi govt. dont want civil war bringin other countries in
want iraq on its own feet asap.
NO TIMELINE however
Pres. looks to Gen. Casey to develope those plans and present them

[shadowknows69]

9. and here come the same old talking points

n/t

[shadowknows69]

10. That's it I can't take anymore

He might as well be asking Rove these questions.

[WheresWaldo]

11. Feingold

NYT says Iraqi army fully capable by end of year to recruit train and deploy army by end of year quote from Zalmay
given Pres stand up and stand down policy, when can US troops come home?

Zalmay: current size mission and composition doesnt matter, goal is iraqis do job themselves. with regards to police, they are behind than the army, requires adjustment and reform of ministry to raise their effectiveness. We will pull all this together and present to Iraqi govt. and pres.

Feingold: to justify 100,000 troops being their still doesnt make sense if Pres. stand up and stand down policy is real, given dev. in iraqi military.

Zalmay: cant talk much without taking into account iraqi govt. and

Feingold: you have said if we stay longer, its counterproductive

Zalmay: "Thankyou" (odd) we need right calibration. If we stay too long, iraqis will think of us asoccupiers, we will run into difficulties with iraqi people. Too leave too soon would be a strategic mistake and morally wrong.

Feingold: we have been there too long.

[Roland99]

16. 3 years and 4 months and they don't think of us as occupiers?

Zalmay is SO full of shit.


What else to expect from a PNAC fuck.

[Roland99]

12. C-SPAN's not covering this???

[WheresWaldo]

13. Gotta run...

will write more later...

[WheresWaldo]

14. Someone else wanna pick this up for a bit

good to have a record of it here at DU for future ref.

[WheresWaldo]

15. Sen Alexander (R-TN) up now

[WheresWaldo]

17. Sorry mods for posting in LBN

it was live, thought more would be interested in watching, many just check LBN

[democrat_patriot]

19. Thank you for the play by play

us cuberats appreciate it!!

[LSK]

18. I think its on CSPAN3

I see Hillary on there right now.

[LSK]

23. nevermind, thats something else

[WheresWaldo]

20. Called CSPAN

said they are covering house and senate live on CSPAN 1 and 2, on 3 covering Armed Services Committee.

Are taping this however, will broadcast later today (call 202-737-3220 to find out when).

[WheresWaldo]

21. Sen OBAMA!!!

hells yeah!

[Xenotime]

22. Maybe this will be the start of getting troops pulled out.

[WheresWaldo]

24. Obama

want to focus on the political situation and connection to security.
Premise of admin strategy is as political situation clarifies and stabilises, the insurgents will become more isolated, there will be trust built between religious sects and ethnic groups and that based on political victory, the military needs will lessen.

I have held off, despite feeling it was a mistake to go in, and american people wouldnt have signed up for this ambitious project, now that we're in, lets make it work. heartened by PM Maliki and ministers appointed.

Steps that you've outlined politically have taken place, and no coresponding lessening of violence but theres a escalation of violence. Militias checking IDs and killing, security not improving.

PM Maliki delcaring state of emergency in Baghdad, PM visitin Basra saying govt cracdown. NO IMPROVEMENT.

At what point do we see improvement as a consequence of political progress or have we reached a point of such disconnect that no matter what politicians do, violence has taken off. We are on plan D or F, whats our new plan?

Zalmay: Political steps necessary to deal with violence. Couldnt place yourself strategically to deal with violence without political progress. While Sunni partiicipation hasnt ben sufficient, and terrorists have adjusted to our strategy, I believe that steps to be taken politically and security wise, to deal with sectarian viollence, these are issues dealing with militias and insurgency, reform of ministry of interior, we have a minister we can work with. Difficult issues of state and nation building. This govt. to bring sectarian violence under control. IF IT DOESNT, we have a serios situation. If people come to view govt. as incapable of dealing with it, we have a serious problem.

[WheresWaldo]

25. more

not clear wht we do now, q becomes what do we do if people dont have confidence in current govt. At that point, maybe six months from now, what do we do? When do we cut our losses. In Japan and Germany for 40 plus years, but not at billions in cost.

Zalmay: next six months, need to help political and security track to help reverse trajectory. Given the new govt. and impression they make is important. Govt. moving in right direction. encouraged by steps taken, more needs to be done, we need to help them.

[WheresWaldo]

26. Sen. Coleman and Dodd

Coleman: corruption regarding oil supplies at massive level and funding the insurgency. Where are we at in terms of tackling corruption?

Z: corruption is a big problem. Important because of subsidy system providing opps to exploit system. Govt. is moving to reduce fuel subsidies, courageous move. institutions of monitoring and responding to corruption need to be stregnthened. Encouraged by PM and Minister of Oil with regard to this issue. names of individuals charged with corruption provided by Iraqi govt. Funding insurgency, some from outside iraq, but also from smuggling, hostage taking, also sources of income for insurgents.

C: if we can cut of economic support, we can reduce ferrocity of insurgency.

Dodd: Whatever criticism not focussed on you specifically. Two questions. ONE - your suggestion of increasing US force strength from 40 to 55,000 troops around Baghdad. Quotes State Dept. Cable about Iraqis being harrased. Q is if such problems are reported, why US forces around Baghdad and not Iraqi?

Z: important that Baghdad, focal point of sectarian struggle that terrorists are exploiting and encouraging, plan with Iraqis not producing results, adjusting it, for what specific changes to US forces should be made. I havent made any such statesment, Gen. Casey may have.

D: Do you disagree with Gen. Casey?

Z: I believe people want security. There is a view that if US wanted to end sectarian violence, it could end immediately. How can US be in control and sectarian violence happen. Misperception about our ability to control everything, exagerated view of our ability. If Iraqis need our help to contain a situation, then we should provide it.

D: earlier q about Iran, authorization for contacts with Iran. Things have changed now with nukes, good news about Iran and Iraqi govt support. Why isnt it possible, given the nuke q, to open conversations about nukes, why cant we allow you to pursue a dual track?

Z: at this point the focus is the nuclear issue. do not rule out possibility of engaging them (iranians)

[WheresWaldo]

28. Sen. Sarbanes...

S: situation in Afhganistan, seems to be deteriorating on us, tempted to attrribute it to your departure. To what do you attribute it?

Z: not on top of Afghanistan, but increased attacks from Taliban, as a result of finance, new equipment, recruits, situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, certainly evidence of upsurge in Taliban activity.

S: US commitment being diverted? begining with entry into Iraq? if you were the all knowing decision maker, would you want to commit resources to Afghanistan?

Z: afghanistan very important because of 9-11. I was there, Afghans want to work with US, generally. Pres. Karzai a good partner.

S: does he have a greater legitimacy given the process by which he was chosen in comparison to Iraqi leaders?

Z: Karzai campaigned, Iraq was elected. With regards to diversion to Iraq, he disagrees with Sen. When we went into Iraq, assistance to Afghanistan increased. Dont know whats going on now.

S: you were champion of that (increasing assistance to Afhganistan). Understand that the US is calling on the UN to put together a INTL Compact of donors.

Z: Iraqis are doing that, seeking economic and pol. support from intl. community.

S: in response to Sen. Hagel, of the 14 Billion pledged to Iraq that the US assembled, only 4 billion has been recieved, is this correct?

Z: correct.

S: why?

Z: reluctance of some arab countries who have made pledges, because of concerns about govt. there. Sunni Arabs have taken a negative veiw of previous govt. that didnt have Sunnis elected. New govt has Sunnis.

S: are we fully over the hump of having a unity govt?

Z: ther is a unity govt. facing challenge of sectarianism on the street. this can strain relatins in the govt. challegne of intigrating elements not in govt. PM reaching out to insurgents to be brought in. Arab govts. in neighborhood can help.

S: can you quickly run through roles played by neighbors? leaving aside Iran.

Z: Syria is playing a mixed role, lot of negative. Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, some have been playing positive role, others are begining to engage positively, they can do more and would like to see them do more. Best way to deal with Iranian influence, they should engage, especially the Shia. Because of Saddam, opposition based in Iran. With Arab engagement, lesser need for them to rely on Iran. If new Iraq isolated, they will push it towards Iran. Adjustment taking place.

S: Egypt?

Z: they can help, although financially, looking more to Gulf states. Iraq indebted to them because os Iran Iraq war. Arabs have done less than western powers in terms of debt forgiveness. Issue of assisting with reconstruction.

S: timetable on compact?

Z: 20th of July is first meeting, second step in UNGA meeting, NY, and final conference before end of the year.

[WheresWaldo]

29. Biden closing statements...

Drawdown starting in Sept. inevitable. Question is what do we leave in the wake here.