‘As U.S. soldiers and Marines return home, they can be proud of the work they have done these last months. In addition to a decrease in violence, U.S. forces have paved the way for a corresponding increase in the size and the scope of the Iraqi Security Forces’

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding the President’s remarks on the Petraeus-Crocker recommendations:

“Americans were vividly reminded this week that, as our nation struggles to help Iraq on its way to becoming a stable country that can defend itself and be an ally in the War on Terror, we’re fortunate to have men like Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus representing us in Baghdad. Their commitment, determination, and skill in seeing America’s interests promoted and preserved remind us that public service is a high calling, and that good men and women are still answering that call in heroic ways.

“Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus outlined to the Congress and the country the complex challenges they confront every day in advancing our strategic interests in the Persian Gulf. Their patience and professionalism in doing so was commendable. And it was an important reminder to all of us that the men and women serving in Iraq are well led.

“We were reminded this week that less than a year after the counterinsurgency plan went into full effect, the security situation in Iraq has improved dramatically. Overall violence is down. Civilian deaths are down. Sectarian killing is down. Attacks on American forces are dramatically down. And, as a result of all this, General Petraeus was recently able to recommend to the President that our forces be drawn down to the pre-surge level of 15 brigade combat teams by July of this year.

“None of us should underestimate the complexity of managing this drawdown. The logistical challenges involved in transporting soldiers and equipment safely and in large numbers is immense, as are the operational challenges involved in repositioning the remaining force in a way that keeps pressure on Al Qaeda in Iraq while continuing to protect the Iraqi people. But neither should we underestimate the impact the surge has had in delivering security gains, allowing for a responsible drawdown of thousands of U.S. service members, and in allowing for the transition of our mission in Iraq, a transition that has already begun.

“As part of this ongoing transition, the President announced earlier today that he has accepted General Petraeus’s recommendation to allow for a 45-day period of evaluation and consolidation once the drawdown of surge brigades is complete.

“Encouragingly, the President also announced that Admiral Mullen and Secretary Gates will now be able to reduce the tour lengths of soldiers deploying to Iraq from 15-month to 12-month periods. This change in policy will increase the amount of time our soldiers and Marines are able to spend at home between deployments, a welcome and richly-deserved acknowledgment of the service and sacrifice of the greatest fighting force on earth.

“As U.S. soldiers and Marines return home, they can be proud of the work they have done these last months. In addition to a decrease in violence, U.S. forces have paved the way for a corresponding increase in the size and the scope of the Iraqi Security Forces.

“This so-called ‘surge’ of Iraqi Security Forces is three to four times larger than our own: the Iraqi Army has ballooned by more than 100,000 over the last year alone, and its ranks continue to expand. And local volunteer forces, the so-called ‘Sons of Iraq,’ have swelled to nearly 100,000, a key factor in improved security at the provincial level. Their integration into the Iraq Security Forces is an important next step.

“Young Iraqis are signing up to join local police forces, to protect the Iraqi border against incoming foreign fighters, and for special operations that will allow the Iraqis to track and kill high value terrorist targets on their own.

“These are all encouraging signs. And we are also encouraged by the political progress in Iraq. Though significant political benchmarks remain unmet, progress on other significant benchmarks that seemed far off just a few months ago is underway.

“The Iraqi government also beginning to show a new and welcome willingness to shoulder more of the financial burden for their own security and development. Iraqi has committed, for instance, to gradually assume the salaries of the Sons of Iraq. And the Iraq C-130 planes that were used to shuttle forces and supplies to Basra over the last two weeks were built right here in America.

“Overall, Iraq now covers three-fourths of the cost of its security forces. And we can now realistically expect the Iraqis at some point to assume the full cost of their own security.

“On the development side, the Iraqis are also on a path to self-sufficiency. As of last month, Iraq had purchased more than $2 billion of goods and services from the U.S. The most recent Iraqi reconstruction budget vastly outspends the United States. And slowly but surely, Iraq is approaching total financial control over large reconstruction projects.

“As the Iraqis take over more of their own needs, Congress can help accelerate their path to independence by passing a Supplemental Appropriations Bill that has been on request now for more than a year.

“Our friends on the other side are rightly concerned about military readiness. I share their concern. But the best way to ensure the military’s readiness is not to scrap a plan that has been working in Iraq. The best way to ensure readiness is for Congress to quickly approve the Defense Supplemental, without arbitrary withdrawal dates, and without non-security spending. We also need to pass the regular DOD Appropriations Bill.

“General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker reminded us this week that progress in Iraq is fragile and reversible, that much hard work lies ahead. We’re encouraged by the advances they detailed, but we’re also sobered by the continuing short and long-term challenges to our interests in the Persian Gulf. We can’t lose sight of the need to meet these challenges.

“We need to help Iraq defend itself against Iranian-backed Special Groups as part of a broader effort to check Iran’s apparent desire to dominate the Gulf. And, in the best traditions of U.S. foreign policy, we must continue to deal with the sad effects that decades of neglect by Saddam Hussein have visited on the Iraqi People.

“General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker were clear about the challenges we face. But they outlined a plan for continued progress that is backed up by their achievements so far. They, and the Americans they are fortunate to lead in Iraq, have brought us a good distance from where we were just one year ago. And this week they charted a realistic course moving forward. Now it’s time for the Senate to demonstrate the same commitment and professionalism of these two men, by giving our forces in the field what they need.”

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