Hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee - Report on the Findings of the Iraqi Security Force Independent Assessment Commission

Statement

Hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee - Report on the Findings of the Iraqi Security Force Independent Assessment Commission

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): General Jones, thank you, and thanks to the entire commission for your tremendous continuing contribution to our nation. You represent a tremendous national resource, and I want to express my gratitude, along with everyone else, for your tremendous assistance in helping the Congress understand what we're confronted with as -- and perhaps even more importantly, the American people.

I just want to summarize a couple of things in the assessment, because I actually -- while it's obviously a mixed bag, it does represent some good news as well. And I think we can't just ignore the good news. And that is that you find that the Iraqi armed forces are increasingly effective and capable of assuming greater responsibility for internal security of Iraq, and the Iraqi police are improving, although you've noted some significantly more serious problems with them.

You assess that over the next eight or -- 12 to 18 months, there will be continued improvement in the ISF readiness and capability. You make a finding that the clear, hold and build strategy that's begun -- that began but was not really implemented until this summer is on the right track and shows potential. And you say that the Iraqi army and Iraqi police service have the potential to help reduce sectarian violence.

I want to just ask you straight up, General Jones, if you could speak either individually or on behalf of the commission in explaining the statement on page 129 of the report, when it -- when you talk about the strategic consequences of failure.

We can all debate is the glass half-full or the glass half-empty; what do we do to encourage political reconciliation, which we all know is important to bringing our troops home and maintaining and achieving stability in the region. But I'm not sure that people understand well enough the consequences of our failure in the region. And the statement here is that the strategic consequences of failure or even perceived failure for the United States and the coalition are enormous.

Could you explain to moms and dads perhaps watching this on cable news or C-SPAN why it's important to them and to the security of the American people? Because I think some people perceive this as just a risk to the Iraqis or people in the region, and I believe that's not an accurate reading of the risk. Could you explain that?

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