September 16, 2007

Not Sure It's Making Us Safer, But It's Certainly In the National Security Interest...

SEN. GRAHAM: So you're saying to the Congress that you know that at least 60 soldiers, airmen and Marines are likely to be killed every month from now to July [2008], that we're going to spend $9 billion a month of American taxpayer dollars, and when it's all said and done, we'll still have 100,000 people there, you believe it's worth it in terms of our national security interests to pay that price.

GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't have made the recommendations that I have made if I did not believe that.

Juxtapose with:

WARNER: Are you able to say at this time if we continue what you have laid before the Congress here as a strategy do you feel that that is making America safer?

GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, I believe that this is indeed the best course of action to achieve our objectives in Iraq.

SEN. WARNER: Does that make America safer?

GEN. PETRAEUS: Sir, I don't know, actually. I have not sat down and sorted out in my own mind. What I have focused on and been riveted on is how to accomplish the mission of the Multi-National Force-Iraq.

I have not stepped back to look at -- and you've heard, with other committees, in fact, you know, what is the impact on -- I've certainly taken into account the impact on the military. The strain on our ground forces, in particular, has very much been a factor in my recommendations.

But I have tried to focus on doing what I think a commander is supposed to do, which is to determine the best recommendations to achieve the objectives of the policy from which his mission is derived. And that is what I have sought to do, sir.

SEN. WARNER: Well, once the president makes his statement, I hope you do consider it very carefully, as I know you will.