THE PETRAEUS/WARNER EXCHANGE

This has made it into the news media but it should be given much wider dissemination.

SEN. WARNER: That's what's been said at this table for a long time, sir. And I respect -- to you, it hasn't happened. Want to ask one last question to the general. Again,my respect for you and how I've come to know you, you feel very, very deeply, every single soldier, airman, Marine, sailor that you have under your command. And I think back about George Marshall in World WarII, when he was faced with decisions in every respect. You face the same tough decisions that he and Eisenhower and others faced in that period. And he said in his diary, I was very careful to send to President Roosevelt, every few days, a statement of our casualties; I tried to keep before him all the time the casualty results, because you get hardened to these things and yet you have to be very careful to keep them always in the forefront of your mind. End quote, interesting, fascinating. I'm confident that you do that, and you're advising our president now on a strategy. We don't know what it will be. But I hope that if in any way you disagree,that you will so advise him. And secondly I hope in the recesses of your heart that you know that strategy will continue the casualties, stress on our forces, stress on military families, stress on all Americans. 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 Multinational 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 thei mpact 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. I thank the chair.

SEN. LEVIN: Thank you very much, Senator Warner.

SOURCE:
Federal News Service
September 11, 2007 Tuesday
CTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING
LENGTH: 42514 words
HEARING OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEESUBJECT: THE PETRAEUS-CROCKER REPORT ON PROGRESS INIRAQ CHAIRED BY: SENATOR CARL LEVIN (D-MI) WITNESSES:GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS, COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES INIRAQ; U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ RYAN CROCKER LOCATION:216 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.TIME: 2:14 P.M. EDT DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2007d