08 April 2008
Recent Developments Signal Progress in Iraq, Envoy Crocker Says
General Petraeus tells Congress of reduction in levels of violence
Washington -- There has been substantial progress in Iraq over the past seven months, though immense challenges remain and gains have been both uneven and frustratingly slow, says U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.
"Sustaining that progress will require continuing U.S. resolve and commitment. What has been achieved is substantial, but it is also reversible," Crocker says.
Crocker and General David Petraeus, who commands the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, testified April 8 before the Senate Armed Services Committee and also were scheduled to testify at a second hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Further oversight hearings before the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee were scheduled for April 9.
Central to the oversight hearings is the question of whether U.S. forces should continue to be withdrawn from Iraq and whether current policy in Iraq should be changed to shift more political, economic and military responsibility to the Iraqi government, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said.
One reasons for the surge in combat forces in Iraq announced by President Bush in 2007 was to give the Iraqi government time to launch reconciliation and unification efforts across the country, Crocker said in prepared testimony. By September 2007, Crocker said, it was disappointing that Iraq had not enacted some key laws to accomplish these goals.
"In the last several months, however, Iraq's parliament has formulated, debated vigorously, and in many cases passed legislation dealing with vital issues of reconciliation and nation building," Crocker said. He cited a new pension law, de-Baathification reform and a far-reaching amnesty law.
And the Iraqi parliament has passed a Provincial Powers Law that is an extraordinary step in defining the relationship between the federal and provincial governments, he said. The law establishes the fundamental nature of the state, similar to the complexity of the U.S. development of states' rights in a federal system of government, he said. The law calls for provincial elections by October 1. An election law now is under discussion that will set the standards for these elections, he said.
"The passage of the 2008 budget, with record amounts for capital expenditures, ensures that the federal and provincial governments will have the resources for public spending," Crocker said. "These laws are not perfect and much depends on their implementation, but they are important steps."
Crocker said the political and economic progress of the past few months is significant, but fragile and reversible.
"Iraq has the potential to develop into a stable, secure multiethnic, multisectarian democracy under the rule of law. Whether it realizes that potential is ultimately up to the Iraqi people," Crocker testified. "Our support, however, will continue to be critical."
Crocker said that he cannot guarantee success in Iraq, but is convinced that a major departure from the current engagement would bring failure.
SECURITY CONCERNS ADDRESSED
Petraeus, testifying along with Crocker at the hearings, said that since September 2007 the levels of violence and civilian death have been reduced substantially. He also said al-Qaida-in-Iraq and a number of other extremist elements have been dealt serious blows, while the capabilities of the Iraqi security force have grown.
"Nonetheless, the situation in certain areas is still unsatisfactory and innumerable challenges remain. Moreover, as events in the past two weeks have reminded us and as I have repeatedly cautioned, the progress made since last spring is fragile and reversible," Petraeus said.
But Petraeus also said security in Iraq has improved in the past seven months since a September 2007 congressional hearing on Iraq policies. "And it is significantly better than it was 15 months ago when Iraq was on the brink of civil war and the decision was made to deploy additional U.S. forces to Iraq," he said.
Recent security progress has been enhanced by increased numbers of both U.S.-led coalition forces and Iraqi security forces in conducting counterinsurgency operations across the country. These forces have deployed together to safeguard Iraqis, pursue al-Qaida-in-Iraq, combat criminal and militia extremists and foster the conditions for improved reconciliation. This enabled political and economic progress, he said.
Petraeus said he was recommending to President Bush that after the withdrawal of the last surge brigade unit in July, coalition forces engage in a 45-day period of consolidation and evaluation. "At the end of that period, we will commence a process of assessment to examine conditions on the ground and, over time, determine when we can make recommendations for further reductions [in coalition forces]," he said.
Petraeus said this approach does not allow for establishment of a set withdrawal timetable.
