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Baghdad Attacks Leave Dozens Dead; Political Rush
Aired January 23, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins.
For the next three hours, watch events as they come into the NEWSROOM live on Monday, the 22nd day of January.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Bombs and blood -- Baghdad attacks leave dozens of people dead. In another daring strike, insurgents in U.S. military uniforms kill five American soldiers.
HARRIS: Political rush -- the 2008 campaign for the White House off to a speedy and crowded start. Count them -- eight Democrats, nine Republicans.
COLLINS: No Super Bowl for the Saints, but the team energizing the soul of a broken New Orleans. Louisiana's governor live in THE NEWSROOM.
A deadly weekend for U.S. troops in Iraq. And just minutes ago, we learned details about a helicopter crash that killed 12 Americans near Baghdad.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has been working her sources and joins us now with the very latest -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi.
More disturbing news about Iraq Saturday. That Black Hawk helicopter going down northeast of Baghdad, in Diyala Province. Twelve U.S. service members on board killed. All of the indications now, according to senior U.S. military officials, are the helicopter was brought down by hostile fire and they are leaning toward a finding at this point that it was brought down by a shoulder-fired surface-to- air-missile.
Now, of course, the investigation remains ongoing. But our sources are telling us, based on debris found on the ground and reports coming from the scene, the leaning at this point is that the indications are the helicopter was brought down by a shoulder-fired surface-to-air-missile on Saturday. All 12 service members on board, of course, perished in that incident -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Barbara Starr live from the Pentagon this morning with new information.
Barbara, thank you.
HARRIS: An explosion of gruesome violence in Iraq. Schoolchildren and civilians, insurgents show no mercy in the deadliest of the attacks today in central Baghdad. A pair of car bombs erupt. At least 75 people are killed and 160 wounded.
Elsewhere in the capital, mortar rounds rained down on an elementary school. One woman is killed, eight children -- eight children wounded.
CNN's Michael Holmes joins us from Baghdad -- and Michael, good morning to you.
What details can you offer us about this latest round of violence?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and good morning to you, too.
Yes, the car bombings occurred -- it was a twin bombing, actually. It happened in Baghdad's largest marketplace. If that sounds familiar, it's because it's the third time in as many months that this particular marketplace, in the heart of Baghdad, has been hit by insurgents. This time, two car bombs exploding seconds apart.
We heard them go off here. It's only a mile or so away. And it was literally seconds between the two blasts.
One of them in particular was enormous, according to our sources, and included nails and other pieces of shrapnel. But the explosives themselves enormous. As you pointed out, 75 dead, 160 wounded.
This marketplace is in a -- it's in a fairly mixed area of Shia and Sunni, but most of the shoppers tend to be poor Shia people. This is a very impoverished neighborhood. The mortar rounds you mentioned, that happened in Dura. That's an area, a problematic area just south of Baghdad. And that mortar round landing in an elementary school. One adult and, as you said, eight children wounded in that.
Really, more carnage, body parts, in that bombing in the marketplace, strewn all over the area. It was a really horrific scene and stretched -- already stretched hospitals who had to deal just days ago with the 65 killed and 160 wounded from that university bombing -- back to you.
HARRIS: Oh, Michael, so a difficult day, to be sure, for Iraqi civilians.
Let's talk about the weekend and what a tough weekend it was for U.S. troops. Perhaps the most disturbing was the incident, that attack in Karbala on U.S. soldiers. What's the latest on that investigation?
HOLMES: Yes, this is bizarre, I've got to tell you. I've never heard of anything like that and none of us here have either. Because of how well organized it was, great suspicion this was an inside job, in many ways.
A security meeting going on in what was meant to be a secure compound in Karbala involving U.S. and Iraqi officials.
Now, seven to eight SUVs with tinted windows, looking every bit like a U.S. convoy does around here -- diplomatic or otherwise -- drives in, flashes -- the men inside flashing I.D.s. They're wearing U.S.-style uniforms.
The Iraqi police at the checkpoints thought they were Americans and they went through three checkpoints, got not just into the compound, they got into the building where this meeting was going on and opened fire, targeting specifically the Americans.
There were no Iraqi casualties in this attack. Five Americans killed, three of them wounded. That command is under, as you would imagine, lockdown at the moment. A big investigation going on. And police sources tell us Americans are interrogating everyone from the police chief on down, because this obviously an enormous breach of security.
HARRIS: And suggestions that it had been an inside job.
Michael Holmes for us in Baghdad.
Michael, thank you.
COLLINS: The war on terror is not going away. That warning likely to be part of President Bush's State of the Union message tomorrow night. Details leaking out all weekend.
White House correspondent Elaine Quijano joining us now live from the Washington -- Elaine, sort of a different dynamic this year, with President Bush going before a Democratic-led Congress.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, it really will be.
Good morning to you, Heidi.
Not only are Democrats skeptical about the president's new Iraq plan, but some Republicans have openly joined with those Democrats in voicing their opposition to the president's strategy for additional U.S. forces to quell the violence in Baghdad and Al Anbar Province.
Now, there are several proposals, of course, floating around by various lawmakers for non-binding resolutions to voice that opposition.
So President Bush, tomorrow night, when he heads to Capitol Hill, will continue trying to make the case that his strategy can be effective.
Now, aides say that his comments on the Iraq War will be within the larger war on terror, the context of the larger war on terror. Iraq was very much on the agenda this weekend, in fact.
The president, before leaving for Camp David, sat down with his secretaries of Defense and State to hear about their recent trips to the Middle East region, as the administration tries to build support on the international front, as well, for the Iraq strategy.
Now, today, Heidi, the White House -- the president will return to the White House from Camp David, where he spent the last couple of days putting the finishing touches on his State of the Union message -- Heidi.
COLLINS: But, Elaine, it's not going to be just Iraq or just the Middle East, by way of policy, that he'll be talking about. He's also going to be talking about domestic agenda.
What exactly will he be focusing on?
QUIJANO: Well, clearly, the White House trying to shift soothe focus off foreign policy and on to the president's domestic agenda items. We know that his address will include, as the president previewed a little bit of in his radio address over the weekend, a proposal for a standard tax deduction for health care.
Now, we know from sources familiar with the plan that the figures -- the president may not lay them out by -- specifically, but the figures are $7,500 for individuals, $15,000 for -- a deduction for families. Again, not sure if he'll lay out those specifics, but the White House certainly wants to put some of the focus on that.
Other domestic issues he'll talk about, Heidi, include immigration, energy and education policy -- Heidi.
COLLINS: It's going to be a long speech.
Elaine Quijano live from the White House.
Thank you.
CNN is the place to watch the State of the Union Address. Our prime time coverage begins Tuesday evening, 7:00 Eastern. Watch a special two hour edition of THE SITUATION ROOM.
Then, President Bush's address live on CNN, followed by the Democratic response.
Then, at 10:30 Eastern, Anderson Cooper has reaction from around the world, followed with a special midnight edition of "LARRY KING LIVE."
The best political team on television has you covered.
HARRIS: Well, the race is on the field is getting crowded. Over the weekend, three more presidential hopefuls jumped into the political fray.
On the Democratic side, in a statement posted on her Web site, Senator Hillary Clinton said she's in and in to win. The New York senator is already making public appearances, putting the spotlight on health care.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Heath insurance for every child and universal health care for every American. That will be, you know, a very major part of my campaign and I want to hear people's ideas about how we can achieve that goal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: New Mexico Democratic Governor Bill Richardson made his own Web announcement Sunday. Then he took straight to the talk show circuit and attacked the Iraq War issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: What you do is you set up a timetable for them to handle the security. You set national reconciliation talks with the three ethnic groups. You talk to Iran and Syria.
What we need to do is bring their neighbors in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And on the Republican side, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas announced his candidacy on Saturday and laid out his vision for Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. SAM BROWNBACK (R), KANSAS: Let us resolve to move forward together, to have a bipartisan strategy for the war. We need unity here to win over there. We need to have that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And, again, stay with the best political team on television for all of your campaign and election coverage.
COLLINS: Another week, another wave -- oops. More snow, ice and freezing rain spreading more misery from coast-to-coast. I guess we'll show that again to you.
Ice, slick roads of big concern. You've kind of got to root for these people -- my goodness -- in the mid-Atlantic states, treacherous conditions in Charleston, West Virginia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, as well.
The nation's heartland also reeling from storm after storm. More heavy snow fell over the weekend in parts of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. At last count, more than 45,000 people in Missouri and 25,000 in Oklahoma were still without power after the ice storm more than a week ago now.
And check out the scene. Yes, this is Tucson, Arizona. That's snow. A little bit of a rare sight there. Parts of northern Arizona got more than a foot of snow.
Chad Myers standing by now with more on all of these wintry conditions -- Arizona, isn't there a ski resort like in Flagstaff area?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The Snow Bowl. Yes.
COLLINS: Yes.
See?
MYERS: Been there.
COLLINS: You have, have you?
MYERS: Yes, I have.
COLLINS: Good snow?
MYERS: I've played golf in Scottsdale and the next day I went skiing in Snow Bowl.
HARRIS: Yes.
COLLINS: See?
MYERS: Good morning.
HARRIS: That's living.
MYERS: You can do that. You can do it all the time, all winter long.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Michael Devlin on the record -- the suspected kidnapper now speaking from his Missouri jail cell. What he said, ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: It was the feel good story of the NFL season. Boy, this felt good! The New Orleans Saints delivered their fans from despair, well, at least for a time. That story ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: And a beached freighter spills a bubbly cargo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's enormous 40-foot containers floating here about a mile offshore and it's shedding literally thousands of bottles of shampoo and conditioner. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Yikes! I thought he was going to say champagne.
Ship to shore coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: You were hoping.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears are Super Bowl bound. In the AFC championship, the Colts dug themselves out of a 21-3 hole to come back and beat New England. The final score, Colts 38; Patriots 34.
In the NFC title game, the Bears counted on their running game and defense to defeat New Orleans 39-14.
HARRIS: Tackle them!
COLLINS: Bears Coach Lovie Smith and Colts Coach Tony Dungy become the first African-American head coaches to reach the Super Bowl. Very cool.
HARRIS: So, the New Orleans Saints lost, ended a glorious run for the team. And the city still reeling from Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco joins us to talk about the Saints' impact off the field.
Governor, good morning to you.
GOV. KATHLEEN BLANCO (R), NEW ORLEANS: Good morning.
HARRIS: Well, I'm disappointed. It's still the best football story of the year, don't you think?
Of course you think so, right?
Come on.
BLANCO: Absolutely. It was a real Cinderella story. Louisiana, New Orleans, and the whole region just fell in love with the Saints because they were the real champions. They were working their way and showing the way to recovery, showing that we could -- we could overcome a lot of difficulties and still play with the champions.
HARRIS: Yes.
You know, you get a lot of energy when your football team is performing as well as the Saints performed this year.
Are you a little worried that there might be a little bit of a letdown now that, you know, the Saints have lost and the football season is over and folks may not continue to come together in the spirit that they have?
BLANCO: Well, certainly the games have brought our people together.
HARRIS: Yes.
BLANCO: Given them a lot of physical and psychological relief, something to cheer on.
I think, though, that the successes are going to tide us over for a while and just give us a new energy.
HARRIS: Yes.
I have to ask you, bring us up to speed on recovery efforts post- Katrina.
Where are you with federal money? How much so far has been dedicated to Louisiana to rebuild post-Katrina, post-Rita? And how much more help from the federal government do you expect?
BLANCO: Well, we are trying to move some money through the pipeline, I think about $10 billion in housing. And it's very challenging because we have almost 100,000 people that we have to process on some very difficult technicalities and making sure that we don't have any fraud...
HARRIS: Yes.
BLANCO: Making sure that the people who really deserve the money are getting the money.
It is moving. It's not moving as fast as we would like.
I guess our other problem is simply getting parity and getting proportionate monies. Whenever new monies come up, with feel that -- that Louisiana's -- the magnitude of our -- of the problem here in Louisiana is usually ignored and some other criteria is used.
And I guess that's the one dismaying thing that we see happening.
HARRIS: Do you feel like you're using the money wisely, as effectively as you can?
BLANCO: Well, we are -- the devastation is enormous. And so every single system that we have to deal with has been impacted. So, of course, there's never quite enough money to get it all done and get it done in a timely fn.
But we're using the money that we have as wisely as we possibly can.
HARRIS: How concerned are you with the recent spike in violence in New Orleans?
BLANCO: Well, we are very concerned. But as we speak, we have 360 troops on the ground. I have 300 members of the National Guard and 60 state police who are working the city, who are working under the authority and the direction of the chief of police in New Orleans.
We are watching that situation very carefully. We're encouraging them. We're picking up the pieces because they -- they lost a significant number of their force.
HARRIS: Yes.
BLANCO: We are meeting with them and trying to get that force strength back up. And they're doing recruiting now and we're trying to back that up.
HARRIS: And difficult to diversify your economy, to bring jobs to the region, companies to the region, if this city gets this tag, this label as being a place where violent crime happens.
BLANCO: Well, every large city has its own measure of violent crime. But the citizens of New Orleans have -- have just put their foot down and say they want it stopped. And I think that's a very good sign, when you've got -- when you have citizen involvement.
We're going to help the legal and the law enforcement system get back on its footing. There were a lot of problems with the jails not being completed and the courtrooms being ruined by the storms. But we're trying to tackle it from every single angle.
HARRIS: Less than half of New Orleans' pre-storm population of 454,000 has returned.
Are you concerned that your city, your big city -- I mean there are other big cities, obviously, in Louisiana -- but are you concerned that New Orleans is going to become a forgotten, a lost city?
BLANCO: Well, I think as we get the housing back up, we're going to see people coming back every day. Right now, every single day brings 50 to 100 new students enrolling in the school systems in New Orleans. So we see there is an in migration trend. And as people can find housing, they are coming home.
Our people basically are homesick. And we're working very hard to be able to get their homes back up and enable them to come home where they want to be.
HARRIS: Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco with us this morning.
Great to see you, Governor.
Congratulations on a great season for your Saints.
BLANCO: Thank you.
We are very proud of the Saints.
HARRIS: Hoo-dad!
BLANCO: Hoo-dad!
HARRIS: Thank you.
COLLINS: A controversial jailhouse talk -- Michael Devlin grants his first interview. But his attorneys say their client was deceived. We'll talk about it ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
And what's it like to run against Hillary Rodham Clinton?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a very disciplined campaigner. She's a very cautious campaigner. She'll be well briefed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Tips for current political rivals from a past opponent.
That's coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Michael Devlin speaks -- the man charged with kidnapping two Missouri teens now tells snippets of his story.
CNN's Rick Sanchez has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The accused kidnapper talked to the "New York Post" in two 15-minute interviews given from the Franklin County Jail. Michael Devlin admitted to the "Post" that he hasn't talked to his parents yet, saying, "It's much easier talking to a stranger about these things than your own parents."
Devlin, who comes from a large family, told the paper the only visitors he's had in jail were his attorneys.
He also told the reporter that he became lonely and withdrawn in 2002 when he was diagnosed with diabetes.
When talking about the past four years, the amount of time that Shawn Hornbeck was missing, Devlin told the "Post," and we quote, "I guess I was relatively happy."
The newspaper reports when asked if he was attracted to women, Devlin answered, "I can't talk about that because it has to do with the case."
Last week, Sean Hornbeck's parents told Oprah they thought their son was sexual abused during his captivity. Devlin has pleaded not guilty to one charge of felony kidnapping in regards to Ben Ownby and he is expected to be arraigned on kidnapping charges in the case of Shawn Hornbeck as well.
Rick Sanchez, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: Michael Devlin's attorneys are taking exception with the "New York Post" interview, saying their reporter deceived their client. They're expected to file a motion today to have Devlin moved to another facility.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL KIELTY, MICHAEL DEVLIN'S ATTORNEY: I think the media is always going to try and do their job. And their job is to try and gain access to people of interest, people that -- and he's obviously an interesting character. I mean nobody really knows anything about him.
Nevertheless, I think it's the jail's fault.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ETHAN CORLIJA, MICHAEL DEVLIN'S ATTORNEY: There are several inaccuracies and they are grave inaccuracies. And we are, of course, you know, worried that things of an inflammatory nature will have an impact on people who are -- on how people view this case and potential jury people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Ambulances rushing in for another round of wounded. Insurgents pulling off a sneak attack against American G.I.s. Iraq's latest in THE NEWSROOM.
It is getting crowded out there -- 17 so far eying the Oval Office exactly a year before New Hampshire. We're looking for elbow room here in THE NEWSROOM.
And hold on -- it is -- hang in there -- it's treacherous out there. More miserable winter weather to tell you about in THE NEWSROOM.
We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
COLLINS: The situation in Iraq, it has taken some ominous turns since President Bush's State of the Union Address last January. Insurgents targeting American troops, the death toll still rising, and criticism on the rise.
Time now for a fact check from CNN's Sean Callebs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT(voice over): This is last year, before Mr. Bush proposed sending more U.S. troops to Iraq. The 2006 State of the Union, and a president flush with optimism.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The road of victory is the road that will take our troops home. As we make progress on the ground and Iraqi forces increasingly take the lead, we should be able to further decrease our troop levels.
CALLEBS: A year ago, in the same address, the president recognized the personal loss suffered by Bud and Sara Clay. Their son, Marine Sergeant Dan Clay, was killed fighting in Fallujah. Today the Clays still grieve, but their support for Mr. Bush and his evolving policy in Iraq is unwavering.
BUD CLAY, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: Like all of us, he doesn't have a crystal ball. He has his hopes and things that he would like to do, but life is not like that. Realities of life are that, as you know, things change, and you make your best decision on the information you have and you go with that.
SARA CLAY, SON KILLED IN IRAQ: His very intention ultimately is to get our boys home as soon as he possibly can, but he had a more important objective, and that is that that area would be able to be left in a semblance of security and peace.
CALLEBS: A year ago, the president told the nation that perhaps security and peace in Iraq were within reach.
BUSH: We're on the offensive in Iraq, with a clear plan for victory. First we're helping Iraqis build an inclusive government, so that old resentments will be eased, and the insurgency will be marginalized.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Unfortunately, shortly after President Bush gave his 2006 State of the Union Address, Iraq's problems got even worse. And an insurgency and a terrorist threat also became, in most eyes, a civil war.
CALLEBS: Mr. Bush's harshest critics say his words on Iraq and his policies there will define his presidency.
LAWRENCE KOLB, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: I think President Bush's legacy will be, he led us into an unnecessary war, he led us in for the wrong reasons and he didn't do it correctly.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And Sean Callebs joining us with more information.
Sean, when I think about the speech for tonight, usually, there is a particular demographic or someone that the president is speaking directly to. Who will that be tonight?
CALLEBS: You know, it's interesting, Heidi, because it really cuts across a very broad demographic this evening. If you talk about Iraq, what's going on there, he is speaking, in large part, to members of his own party in Congress, these are people who may be waffling right now, who may be hearing from their constituents, that now is not the time to ramp up and send in more than 20,000 more troops. He will probably make the argument, we have a new plan, give us time, let's see how this goes. But he also has to convince the American public, he has seen his approval rating dip dramatically over the past several months. When it comes to issues like health care, taxes, he's talking to the American public as a whole, but he's also going to talking to congressional Democrats s well when he picks up on the issue of immigration. So really he's going to be touching a very broad sector this evening.
COLLINS: All right, CNN's Sean Callebs, reporting from Washington. Thanks, Sean.
And CNN is the place to watch the State of the Union Address. Primetime coverage begins tonight at 7:00 Eastern. You can watch a special two-hour edition of "THE SITUATION ROOM," and then President Bush's address live on CNN, followed by the Democratic response. Then at 10:30, Anderson Cooper has reaction around the world, followed by a special midnight edition of "LARRY KING LIVE." The best political team on television has you covered.
HARRIS: Flying through the Caribbean? Or is it Caribbean?
COLLINS: I like Caribbean.
HARRIS: You like Caribbean? OK, let's go with Caribbean today. Take your passport, or your vacation could have an unhappy ending. New rules, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
Clean gas, we're not talking pollution rules here either.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh, does this have to do with terrorism? That's exactly what -- I called my daughter on my cell phone and told her about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Fill her up -- gas station call it terror-free oil. Slick promotion, in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And the nominees are, the race for Hollywood gold is set. We will tell who's in the running in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Leading U.S. troops in Iraq, the man President Bush tapped for the job. On the Hill, you see the live shot now in the hot seat. Live coverage of his confirmation hearing ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK) COLLINS: Among our top stories this morning, leading the war in Iraq, a Senate confirmation hearing getting under way now for General David Petraeus. He's President Bush's choice to command U.S. forces in Iraq. The Democrat-led Senate panel will no doubt have tough questions about the President's plan. You see Carl Levin there, particularly more troops.
But Petraeus is expected to be a shoo-in and get his fourth star in the process. Petraeus once headed the training of Iraqi security forces, and I will tell you more about this in a moment. Let's listen in, if we could, to Senator Levin.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), CHMN., ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Many of whom will be deployed into Baghdad in the middle of a protracted and bloody sectarian battle over the future of Iraq. He will take over for General George Casey, who has served in this position since 2004. General Petraeus is well-known to this committee. In July of 2004 and again, in June of 2005, General Petraeus provided the committee valuable insights from his experiences as an infantry division commander during and immediately after the invasion of Iraq and his tenure of commander of early U.S. efforts to train and equip Iraqi security forces. Experiences that he no doubt will draw heavily upon in the days ahead.
General Petraeus is well qualified for this command. Widely recognized for the depth and breadth of his education, training and operational experience. Noteworthy is his recent leadership of the team that wrote the new counter-insurgency manual for the Army and Marine Corps. In addition to our interest in his assessment of current conditions and operations, many of our questions this morning will probe the theory and practice of counter-insurgency, and their application in today's Iraq, which isn't experiencing a traditional insurgency.
But, rather, a mixture of sectarian violence and an emerging civil war, as well as an insurgency against the government.
Prime Minister Maliki has acknowledged the crisis in Iraq is a political crisis. President Bush says this troop surge and other increased U.S. commitments are based upon the Iraqi political leaders keeping their pledges to meet benchmarks on the military, political and economic front. And he says this, even though Iraqi political leaders have not followed through on their pledges in the past.
Secretary Gates, on January 12th described four categories of benchmarks that we would be monitoring. The first are the military benchmarks, including deployment of effective Iraqi forces into Baghdad, and access into all neighborhoods without political interference. The second category of Secretary Gates would be those benchmarks relating to the hold part of the strategy, or how effectively Iraqi forces control an area once it is cleared. The third are benchmarks relating to the economic recovery of a controlled area. The fourth are benchmarks relating to the Iraqis, reaching political compromises on outstanding issues, including provincial elections, power sharing, and the distribution of oil revenues.
This morning, we will probe General Petraeus' assessment of the current situation in Iraq. We will want to understand his views on the plans of the Iraqis meeting their commitments, and what pressure are we willing to place on Iraqi leadership to meet the benchmarks that they've agreed to. We will ask for his assessment of the readiness of U.S. forces in and on their way to Iraq for counterinsurgency operations. We will want to hear how he intends to employ forces that are now surging into Iraq. We will want to know what timeline he has in mind to measure the pace and scope of Iraqi security forces assumption of the counter-insurgency fight. We all appreciate General Petraeus' service and his willingness to lead our forces at this critical and dangerous time.
Senator McCain?
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
And Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for your rapid consideration of this nomination. You and your staff have made this possible, and I appreciate it very much and hope we can, at the completion, upon the testimony today, move quickly forward to the vote on General Petraeus nomination.
But, again, I want to thank you for the rapid consideration of this important nomination.
General Petraeus, I join Chairman Levin in welcoming you here today and congratulating you. It's hard to imagine a more important military nomination than that of General David Petraeus.
General, you know better than others the stakes in this war, the benefits of success and potential catastrophic consequences of failure. You having literally written the book on counter-insurgency understand the strategy and tactics that must guide the president's increase in U.S. force levels. And you, general, will have great responsibility for the course of future American actions in Iraq. But to state the obvious, your job will be very difficult.
We've made many, many mistakes in this war. From the initial invasion, we had too few troops in Iraq. We never redressed this deficiency. We played whack-a-mole instead of clearing and holding. We adapted an inadequate an unrealistic light-footprint coalition strategy, that focused on turning over to Iraqi missions that they were plainly unable to complete.
Administration officials frequently and repeatedly issued unjustifiably optimistic assessments and predictions about the situation in Iraq, and we responded ineffectively to the hostile actions of Sunni, Shia and foreign fighters alike, and the vagaries of the Iraqi government.
It's somewhat dismaying that only now after nearly four years at war in Iraq, is the United States moving toward a traditional counter- insurgency strategy, aimed first at the protection of the Iraqi population and supported by troop levels appropriate to their mission.
Whether the projected surge is sufficient to accomplish all that our leaders will ask of our troops remains an open question in my mind, and I look forward, general, to your testimony on this score. I believe that the fundamental components in the new strategy are needed in Iran -- in Iraq, and that they have been necessary for a long time.
By quelling the violence in Baghdad and with your leadership improving our training and enforcement efforts, we will allow the economic and political process to move forward and create a situation which will permit confidence and optimism. While I believe this will present a solid chance of success, I would note again, that the new plan does not, on its own, guarantee success.
Bringing down the violence in Iraq will help give Prime Minister Maliki and others the political space they need to pursue reconciliation. But it is up to the Iraqis to make these tough decisions. It's absolutely imperative that they seize this opportunity. It may well be their last. We needed a new military leadership in Iraq for some time, and there is no one in the U.S. military better suited to implement the president's new strategy than General Petraeus. I'm confident that you will receive broad support in the Senate as well, Admiral Fallon, who has been nominated as the next head of Central Command.
It's absolutely essential that the Senate act promptly on your nomination. I hope following Senate action, the president will direct you to take the next flight to Iraq and assume command. Your role is that important. If confirmed, this will be your third assignment in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. You led the 101st Airborne Division with great distinction in northern Iraq in 2003. You were later recognized for making significant improvements in the training of the Iraqi security forces after a slow start and missteps during the early months of the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Most recently, as commander of the U.S. Army's combined arms center at Fort Leavenworth, you lead the development of the Army's doctrine for military operations and a counter-insurgency development. This revised doctrine is designed to merge traditional approaches to counter-insurgency operations with the realities of the 21st century.
Mr. Chairman, in the foreword to the new field manual, General Petraeus wrote, quote, "conducting a successful counter-insurgency campaign requires a flexible adaptive force led by agile, well- informed culturally astute leaders." I believe that this committee is has just such a leader before it today, and that he is someone we can look to for leadership in this, America's final chance to prevail in Iraq.
General, I thank you and your family for the sacrifices you have made in your career of selfless service to our nation. I look forward to your testimony today.
LEVIN: Thank you, Senator McCain.
General Petraeus? LT. GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, U.S. ARMY: Mr. Chairman, Senator McCain, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you. I'd like to begin this morning by briefly reviewing the situation in Iraq, explaining the change and focus of the new strategy and discussing the way ahead. This statement is a bit longer than usual, but as I discussed with you last week, Mr. Chairman, I believe it is important that the committee hear it, and I appreciate the opportunity to present it.
The situation in Iraq has deteriorated significantly since the bombing this past February of the Al-Askari mosque in Samarra, the third Shia Islamic shrine. The increase in the level of violence since then, fueled by the insurgent and sectarian fighting that spiraled in the wake of the bombing, has made progress in Iraq very difficult and created particularly challenging dynamics in this capital city of Baghdad.
Indeed, many Iraqis in Baghdad today confront life or death, stay or leave decisions on a daily basis. They take risks incalculable to us just to get to work, to educate their children and to feed their families. In this environment, Iraq's new government, its fourth in three and a half years, has found it difficult to gain traction.
Though disappointing, this should not be a surprise. We should recall that after the liberation of Iraq in 2003, every governmental institution in the country collapsed. A society already traumatized by decades of Saddam's brutal rule was thrown into complete turmoil and the effects are still evident throughout the country and Iraqi society.
Iraq and its new government have been challenged by insurgents, international terrorists, sectarian militias, regional meddling, violent criminals, governmental dysfunction and corruption. Iraq's security forces and new governmental institutions have struggled in this increasingly threatening environment and the elections that gave us such hope actually intensified sectarian divisions in the population at the expense of the sense of Iraqi identity.
In this exceedingly difficult situation, it has proven very hard for the new government to develop capacity and to address the issues that must be resolved to enable progress.
The escalation of violence in 2006 undermined the coalition strategy and raised the prospect of a failed Iraqi state, an outcome that would be in no group's interest save that of certain extremist organizations and perhaps states in the region that wish Iraq and the United States ill. In truth, no one can predict the impact of a failed Iraq on regional stability, the international economy, the global war on terror, America's standing in this world, and the lives of the Iraqi people.
In response to the deterioration of the situation in Iraq, a new way ahead was developed and announced earlier this month. With implementation of this approach, the mission of Multi-National Force Iraq will be modified, making security of the population, particularly in Baghdad, and in partnership with Iraqi forces the focus of the military effort.
For a military commander, the term "secure" is a clearly defined doctrinal task, meaning to gain control of an area or terrain feature and to protect it from the enemy. Thus, the task will be clear cut, though difficult. Certainly, upcoming operations will be carried out in full partnership with Iraqi forces, with them in the lead whenever possible, and with arms-length when that is not possible.
Transition of Iraqi forces and provinces to Iraqi control will continue to feature prominently in the coalition plan and, as recommended by the Iraqi Study Group, the adviser effort will be substantially reinforced.
The primacy of population security in the capital will mean a greater focus on that task, particularly in the most threatened neighborhoods. This will, of course, require that our unit commanders and their Iraqi counterparts develop a detailed appreciation of the areas in which they will operate, recognizing that they may face a combination of Sunni insurgents, international terrorists, sectarian militias and violent criminals.
Together, with Iraqi forces, a persistent presence in these neighborhoods will be essential. Different approaches will be required in different locations. Whatever the approach though, the objective will be to achieve sufficient security to provide the space and time for the Iraqi government to come to grips with the tough decisions its members must make to enable Iraq to move forward.
In short, it is not just that there will be additional forces in Baghdad. It is what they will do and how they will do it that is important.
Some of the members of this committee have observed that there is no military solution to the problems of Iraq. They are correct. Ultimate success in Iraq will be determined by actions in the Iraqi political and economic arenas on such central issues as governance, the amount of power devolved to the provinces and possibly regions, the distribution of oil revenues, national reconciliation and resolution of sectarian differences and so on.
Success will also depend on improvements is in the capacity of Iraq's ministries, in the provision of basic services, in the establishment of the rule of law and in economic development.
It is, however, exceedingly difficult for the Iraqi government to come to grips with the toughest issues it must resolve while survival is the primary concern of so many in Iraq's capital.
For this reason, military action to improve security, while not wholly sufficient to solve Iraq's problems, is certainly necessary and that is why additional U.S. and Iraqi forces are moving to Baghdad.
The way ahead is designed to be a comprehensive approach. Indeed, the objectives of helping Iraqis increase the capacity of their governmental institutions, putting Iraq's unemployed to work and improving the lot in life of Iraqi citizens requires additional resources, many of which will be Iraqi.
In carrying out the non-kinetic elements of the strategy, however, our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians down range must get all the help they can from all the agencies of our government.
There is a plan to increase that assistance and it is hugely important. This clearly this is time for the leaders of all our governmental departments to ask how their agencies can contribute to the endeavor in Iraq and to provide all the assistance that they can.
Our military is making an enormous commitment in Iraq. We need the rest of the departments to do likewise to help the Iraqi government get the country and its citizens working and to use Iraq's substantial oil revenues for the benefit of all the Iraqi people.
Having described the general approach, I would like to offer a word on expectations. It will take time for the additional forces to flow to Iraq, time for them to gain an understanding of the areas in which they will operate, time to plan with and get to know their Iraqi partners, time to set conditions for the successful conduct of security operations, and of course, time to conduct those operations and then to build on what they achieve.
None of this will be rapid. In fact, the way ahead will be neither quick nor easy and there undoubtedly will be tough days. We face a determined, adaptable, barbaric enemy. He will try to wait us out. In fact, any such endeavor is a test of wills and there are no guarantees.
The only assurance I can give you is that if confirmed, I will provide Multi-National Force Iraq the best leadership and direction I can muster, I will work to ensure unity of effort with the ambassador and our Iraqi and coalition partners and I will provide my bosses and you with forthright, professional military advice with respect to the missions given to Multi-National Force Iraq and the situation on the ground in Iraq.
In that regard, I would welcome opportunities to provide periodic updates to this body. Beyond that, I want to assure you that should I determine that the new strategy cannot succeed, I will provide such an assessment.
If confirmed, this assignment will be my fourth year or longer deployment since the summer of 2001, three of those to Iraq. My family and I understand what our country has asked of its men and women in uniform and of their families since 9/11.
In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the American people for their wonderful support in recent years of our men and women in uniform. Tom Brokaw observed to me one day in northern Iraq that those who have served our nation since 9/11 comprised the new Greatest Generation. I agree strongly with that observation and I know the members of this committee do, too.
Over the past 15 months, I have been privileged to oversee the organizations that educate our Army's leaders, draft our doctrine, capture lessons learned and help our units prepare for deployment. This assignment has provided me a keen awareness of what we've asked of our soldiers and of their families.
In view of that, I applaud the recent announcement to expand our country's ground forces. Our ongoing endeavors in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere are people intensive and it is heartening to know that there will be more soldiers and Marines to shoulder the load.
I recognize that deploying more forces to Iraq runs counter to efforts to increase the time at home for our troops between deployments. I share concerns about that. However, if we are to carry out the Multi-National Force Iraq mission in accordance with the new strategy, the additional forces that have been directed to move to Iraq will be essential, as will, again, greatly increased support by our government's other agencies, additional resources for reconstruction and economic initiatives, and a number of other actions critical to what must be a broad, comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to the challenges in Iraq.
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