Second Day Of Petraeus-Crocker Hearings Begins

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  The second day of congressional hearings with Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker has begun.

Following opening statements by Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, Petraeus and Crocker are expected to just repeat their statements from Tuesday - progress has been made in reducing violence in Iraq, back to 2005 levels, but the gains are "fragile and reversible." Petraeus will reiterate that he is asking for what's being termed a 45-day "pause" in the withdrawal of additional combat units sent to Iraq last year, followed by a period of "consolidation and evaluation" of indeterminate length. Crocker will state once again that progress is being made but the United States must remain fully engaged in Iraq, both militarily and diplomatically.

Hunter's opening statement shows Republicans will take a tougher line today, especially after yesterday's hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Petraeus and Crocker had few friends, even among Republicans.

"No one can deny that the security situation in Iraq has improved," said Hunter, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential nomination this cycle.

Hunter also "disagreed" that recent military operations conducted in Basra by the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki were a setback for Iraqi security forces in their stuggle with militias loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr.

"I disagree," Hunter said. "I see those operations are demonstrating Iraqi willingness to do the very things that we Americans have been pressing them to do - most importantly, to take responsibility for their own security."