Senate Armed Services Committee review of Defense Authorization Request

At the Senate Armed Forces Committee review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2009, Senator John Warner (R-VA) said he felt the situation in Iraq was “drifting sideways,” but that there were definite signs of improvement. While violence has fallen off considerably, and substantial degradation has taken place, he said, al Qaida remains a threat. Criminal activity remains at a higher than acceptable level, and he said he regrets that the present situation does not show the ability to govern a sovereign nation. “Two steps forward, one back,” he said. The Iraq people have a tremendous potential to become a nation that would “be the envy of all in the Middle East.” He said he thought the poppy situation is “dismal” and “totally unacceptable.”

Admiral William J. Fallon, Commander, U.S. Central Command, said he is encouraged about Afghanistan, because the government there receives a lot of support from the people, and the military force there is really going to be able to provide the stability needed to get them on their feet. Pakistan, he said, just completed an election, and opportunities are available for us to help them help themselves. As he spends his time in the region, he said, he is overall encouraged, and that he “couldn’t be any more proud” of the men and women in uniform.

Fallon said that Iraq is a sovereign country and they have the right to do what they choose. Iran shares a long border with them, he said, and there are many things perceived as being good from Iran (in the mind of the Iraqis), but it’s a very “mixed bag” and from his perspective, we are not going to be able to help solve the problems in that country without assistance from the outside. His understanding is that Iran is showing positive engagements and is being more cooperative. It’s a difficult picture, he said, to determine where we are.