We’re scheduled, Senator Warner, to leave the Capitol

at 11 o’clock if we can.

Mr. Chairman, I join you first in thanking the cochairs

of the Iraq Study Group. We thank the...

Senator Warner, if it’s okay with the committee, I

have an opening statement. I think my co-chairman,...

I think we should say, and Lee will probably have

something to add to this, that we note your...

Thank you very much. Thank you.

I will proceed now with 2 or 3 minutes. First, Congressman

Hamilton,...

I thank you for that. To take off on your

question on Congress, Congress having really been...

Excuse me. My time is running out. I think

I concur generally with that. I used the word deliberately...

But you concur generally that Congress

would be helpful to look at it once before, likely through...

I thank the witnesses. I just simply close

with this observation: But the President under the...

Senator Levin.

We took a look at this over a period of 9 months,

Senator, and the principal recommendations...

One of the things we kept asking ourselves repeatedly

through our discussions was what kind...

At the same time, Senator Levin, I think it’s fair to

say, and I know Lee would agree with this,...

I want to thank the panel and especially our

two leaders for the outstanding work and effort...

Senator McCain, that relates to the risk with embedded

American forces with Iraqi forces. You’re...

Senator McCain, may I just add to what Lee has

said? We’re not only increasing fivefold the...

Thank you, Senator McCain.

I hope in the course of your dialogue here today you can touch

once...

Thank you.

Senator Byrd.

Senator, we really did not express a view on that.

One of the rules we followed pretty closely...

I would agree with that, Senator Byrd. I haven’t

studied it and we did not study it as a part...

Senator, I think if such a resolution were in the

form and supported strongly, which would reinforce...

Thank you, Mr. Byrd.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Reluctantly. Reluctantly, Senator, reluctantly.

[Laughter.]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First of all, I can’t think of any two people better equipped to

handle...

I know you do.

Yes, sir, I understand that. I’m talking about

amounts, so we can get an idea of what that’s...

Thank you very much for your service.

Thank you.

Thanks to both of you for the contribution that you’ve made to

the decisions...

Exactly.

Yes, I agree with that. So I appreciate your

answer. There’s obviously a lot to gain from getting...

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First let me echo the thanks of my colleagues on this committee

for...

Combat brigades, Senator, dedicated to force protection.

I think you will have to have substantial capabilities

to protect those advisers, and obviously...

Thank you.

Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your extraordinary

work and the work of your colleagues.

This...

In Baghdad, if that was the only area we decided

to be proactive.

General Corelli’s Reserves are about 20,000 in Kuwait

and Germany, as I understand it.

My impression is that if you’re going to take this

road, the force has to be substantial in...

So that begs the other question of, let’s assume

we’re going to plus-up our forces in Baghdad,...

Thank you, Senator, very much.

Senator Chambliss.

Senator, the two countries, in our report, we approach

them differently. With respect to Iran,...

Excuse me.

We’ve had more than a little pushback on the

Syrian and Iranian question because it’s a tough...

I want to just direct your attention if I could, Senator

Chambliss, to the bottom of page 56,...

Thank you, and thank you to both of you.

Your success in government has been extraordinary....

37 days in Tallahassee, Florida in November

and December 2000. [Laughter.]

I want to point...

So too with the proposed two-state solution.

The prime minister of Israel has said he wants...

Senator, there are a lot of moderate Arabs that

you have to appeal to in order to solve the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Again, thank you both on behalf of our country. I think the biggest

contribution...

I do as well.

There’s no such thing as a former marine. Let me

correct the record. I am a marine.

That’s right.

That’s right.

I think so.

Okay. The second question is——

That’s important for the country to hear, because

a lot of Americans don’t believe that. Do...

I don’t mean to—well, I think we all have

doubts. We probably have doubts about our own democracy....

But you both believe, after having analyzed the

situation, that there’s reason to believe with...

Yes, we believe that. The ‘‘if’’ clause you used is

hugely important.

I’ll answer for myself, Senator. In my view it may

not have been when we first went in, but...

It certainly does.

I would strike the word ‘‘the’’ and use ‘‘a’’. It is

a central front. Look, al Qaeda today is...

Thank you very much.

Senator Clinton.

I think it’s a correct statement, but it’s not the

only leverage we have, the troop level. I...

Senator Clinton, I think if Congress were to, in addition

to praising this report, which many...

Thank you.

Thank you, Senator, but could you say this is good

until something better comes along?

Gentlemen, let me add my word of thanks. I

think you’ve rendered a great service to the country....

There are some who’ve criticized the President

for not agreeing to talk to Iran. But from what...

You’ve been around this city a lot longer than

I have, but sometimes these positions appear...

My last question is, you recommend that the

United States talk to al-Sadr. At one point there...

Senator, that arrest warrant, you’re right, but it was

quite some time ago, and it was rescinded...

Senator Dayton, would you indulge me? I

wish to go vote.

Then Senator Levin and Senator Thune will

resume.

VerDate 0ct 09 2002 09:55 Jun 25, 2007...

Then have some input. Now, practically

we’re going to be out of here in about 48 hours, not...

But I’m sure a number of us could come back

and work with the administration. I know my colleague...

I just ask one observation that perplexes me

greatly. I’ve been back and forth, maybe not as...

I thank you both very much, and I must depart

for the vote at this point in time. But you’ve...

I thank you with a great sense of humility

for that recognition.

Senator Dayton.

I think we reject the idea that the situation is

hopeless.

Oh, my mind doesn’t think in those quantitative

terms, I guess, Senator. I think where we are...

There certainly is that point and we’re perilously

close to that point, and that’s why we emphasize...

Thank you.

Has Senator Nelson had an opportunity?

We’re past the 11 o’clock hour. We thank you for

not just your contribution to this Nation and...