Situation in Iraq

I've just had the chance to listen to the testimonies of Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker to the Senate regarding the current situation in Iraq. I always enjoy hearing about real and current events from the people who are actually instrumental in their happening. All the other commentary and opinions get old in the absence of clear statements from those who know, and perhaps more importantly those who have a reason to know because they are the actors in the event.

I found both testimonies to be trustworthy in the sense that their assessments sound to me appropriate given all that I know of Iraq and the ways of life in general. They agree with the impression that I and others who have examined the issue circumspectly have been coming to recognize over the last couple of years:

1. That the US must continue to play a vital role in the country for the foreseeable future.
2. That complete withdrawal of all American troops in a precipitous (prejudicial) manner would be disastrous.
3. That demonstrable progress is indeed being made, but the road is hard and perhaps longer than the American public would like.
4. That carefully intended troop level reductions is indeed possible in 2008 and in succeeding years and expenditure by the US in Iraq is already declining and able to continue to decline over time.

A few salient points that I thought were worth mentioning:

• Crocker said it well: The way the US leaves Iraq will be far more important and far more memorable to the history of the world than how or why we entered Iraq.
• The data slides provided to accompany Petraeus's testimony I found very readable and informative: http://www.defenselink.mil/pdf/Testimony_Handout_Packet.pdf
• Iraqi expenditures and troop levels in the effort to stabilize Iraq under democracy and the rule of law already surpass American, and the trend is that the gap is widening quickly.
• Al Qaida's image among Iraqi's is worsening.
• Iran's interference (which in many ways is understandable) is becoming the major factor and both Iraq and the US are onto it as such.