Iraq Study Group Report Recommendations

Dec 7, 2006

Senate Committee Armed Services

Former Secretary Baker and Former Representative Hamilton testified about the report of the Iraq Study Group on its bipartisan effort to rethink military and political options in Iraq. Among the topics they addressed were the level of military deployments in the country, potential ability of the Iraqi government to assume security .. Read More
Former Secretary Baker and Former Representative Hamilton testified about the report of the Iraq Study Group on its bipartisan effort to rethink military and political options in Iraq. Among the topics they addressed were the level of military deployments in the country, potential ability of the Iraqi government to assume security responsibilities, possible new missions for the U.S. military in the region, and the need to engage regional powers in alleviating tensions in both Iraq and surrounding areas.

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TIME SPEAKER TEXT
00:00:05 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Good morning, everyone. The committee is

very privileged to have before us this morning Secretary...

00:01:38 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

at 11 o’clock if we can.

00:01:45 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

We’ll try our best to accommodate that

schedule, we’ll start out with say a 3-minute question...

00:03:03 Levin, CarlU.S. Senator

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

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

00:05:53 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Senator Levin.

Gentlemen, we’ll now receive your opening statements.

STATEMENT...

00:05:58 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

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

00:06:11 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

That’s fine.

00:06:11 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

I think we should say, and Lee will probably have

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

00:06:54 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Senator Warner, we are mindful of the fact that

at the creation of the Iraq Study Group you...

00:08:28 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much. Thank you.

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

Hamilton,...

00:09:13 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I thank the Senator for his question. We are indeed

impressed with the necessity of having a...

00:11:28 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I thank you for that. To take off on your

question on Congress, Congress having really been...

00:12:06 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I certainly do, and I think Congress is quite capable

of doing that. I do have some questions...

00:12:58 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Excuse me. My time is running out. I think

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

00:13:10 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

That’s correct.

VerDate 0ct 09 2002 09:55 Jun 25, 2007 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6633...

00:13:12 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

But you concur generally that Congress

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

00:13:21 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Yes, I do, Senator. But let me reinforce what Mr.

Hamilton has just said on two points. Bipartisanship...

00:14:16 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I thank the witnesses. I just simply close

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

00:14:25 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

That is correct.

00:14:30 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Levin.

00:14:30 Levin, CarlU.S. Senator

Thank you.

I agree with both of your comments about the need for a comprehensive

approach....

00:14:46 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

Senator, and the principal recommendations...

00:15:33 Levin, CarlU.S. Senator

Thank you. Your report says that American military

forces cannot stop the violence or even contain...

00:16:34 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

One of the things we kept asking ourselves repeatedly

through our discussions was what kind...

00:20:17 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you.

00:20:17 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

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

00:21:16 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you.

I wish to advise the committee that the vote will be at 10:45.

Consequently,...

00:21:30 McCain, John S. IIIU.S. Senator

I want to thank the panel and especially our

two leaders for the outstanding work and effort...

00:24:36 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Thank you, Senator. Let me say one or two things,

and I know Lee will have some comments as...

00:26:17 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Senator McCain, that relates to the risk with embedded

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

00:28:57 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Senator.

00:28:58 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Senator McCain, may I just add to what Lee has

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

00:30:04 McCain, John S. IIIU.S. Senator

I thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just would like

to say it should alarm us—and it’s out of the scope...

00:30:36 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Senator McCain.

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

once...

00:31:06 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Senator Warner, just one more thing with reference

to Senator McCain’s very, very valid point....

00:31:22 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you.

Senator Byrd.

00:31:26 Byrd, Robert C.U.S. Senator

Time does not permit me to adequately express

my respect for both of you gentlemen, and my thanks...

00:33:43 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

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

One of the rules we followed pretty closely...

00:34:35 Byrd, Robert C.U.S. Senator

Secretary Baker?

00:34:36 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

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

00:34:49 Byrd, Robert C.U.S. Senator

I think you’re exactly right and were exactly right,

but I ask the question again: Isn’t it...

00:35:24 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Senator, I think if such a resolution were in the

form and supported strongly, which would reinforce...

00:36:03 Byrd, Robert C.U.S. Senator

That’s a very helpful response.

00:36:06 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Byrd.

00:36:08 Byrd, Robert C.U.S. Senator

Might I just elicit a response from Secretary

Baker?

00:36:09 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Yes.

00:36:13 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

I wouldn’t disagree with my co-chairman. He’s the

legislative expert, Senator. I’m an executive...

00:36:31 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much.

00:36:32 Byrd, Robert C.U.S. Senator

Good answer. Thank you both.

00:36:33 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Reluctantly. Reluctantly, Senator, reluctantly.

[Laughter.]

00:36:39 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I raised a similar question to that about 6

months ago in the context of one of these hearings.

Senator...

00:36:45 Inhofe, James M.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

handle...

00:38:37 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

On budgeting, Senator—and Lee’s the one to answer

this question, but on budgeting we have a...

00:38:45 Inhofe, James M.U.S. Senator

I know you do.

00:38:48 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

We say the costs for the war should be included in

the President’s annual budget request starting...

00:38:54 Inhofe, James M.U.S. Senator

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

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

00:39:54 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

That’s totally consistent, Senator, with everything

we heard. I think we used the word ‘‘support.’’...

00:40:42 Inhofe, James M.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much for your service.

00:40:44 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Lieberman.

00:40:46 Lieberman, JosephU.S. Senator

Thank you.

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

the decisions...

00:43:54 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Develop nukes?

00:43:55 Lieberman, JosephU.S. Senator

Exactly.

00:43:56 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Yes. Senator, thank you. That’s a very good question

and let me answer it this way. First of...

00:45:54 Lieberman, JosephU.S. Senator

Yes, I agree with that. So I appreciate your

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

00:46:15 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

We say it in the report, Senator. It’s in the report.

We say we’ve approached them; based on...

00:46:33 Lieberman, JosephU.S. Senator

Thank you.

00:46:34 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Collins.

00:46:36 Collins, Susan M.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

for...

00:49:04 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

We’re not at all satisfied with the present exposure

of American forces and we want to make...

00:50:30 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Combat brigades, Senator, dedicated to force protection.

00:50:41 Collins, Susan M.U.S. Senator

It just seems to me that you’re going to have

to have a substantial combat presence in order...

00:50:52 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I think you will have to have substantial capabilities

to protect those advisers, and obviously...

00:51:24 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

The Pentagon, of course, is coming up with its own

study here in connection with where we go...

00:51:46 Collins, Susan M.U.S. Senator

Thank you.

00:51:48 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much, Senator. It’s an excellent

question.

Senator Reed.

00:51:51 Reed, John "Jack" F.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your extraordinary

work and the work of your colleagues.

This...

00:52:20 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

In Baghdad?

00:52:21 Reed, John "Jack" F.U.S. Senator

In Baghdad, if that was the only area we decided

to be proactive.

00:52:27 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I think we’re impressed that the operation in

Baghdad has not gone well and has not met our...

00:53:04 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

and Germany, as I understand it.

00:53:12 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Now, I know you’ve talked to the commanders a

lot, but it’s not crystal clear to me that the...

00:53:22 Reed, John "Jack" F.U.S. Senator

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

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

00:54:11 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

That’s right.

00:54:12 Reed, John "Jack" F.U.S. Senator

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

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

00:54:46 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I think you make a very good point. I don’t want

to understate this, but the clearing aspect...

00:55:41 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you, Senator, very much.

00:55:42 Reed, John "Jack" F.U.S. Senator

Thank you.

00:55:43 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Chambliss.

00:55:44 Chambliss, SaxbyU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Gentlemen, thank you once again for your strong leadership and

your...

00:57:09 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

them differently. With respect to Iran,...

00:58:44 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Nelson, I inform my colleagues the

vote has started.

00:58:50 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Excuse me.

00:58:51 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Please go ahead.

00:58:52 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

We’ve had more than a little pushback on the

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

01:01:02 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Secretary Baker, do you want to add?

01:01:03 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

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

01:02:30 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much, gentlemen.

I note the vote is on, but we will be able to meet your deadline

and...

01:02:40 Nelson, BillU.S. Senator

Thank you, and thank you to both of you.

Your success in government has been extraordinary....

01:02:59 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

37, Senator.

01:03:01 Nelson, BillU.S. Senator

37 days in Tallahassee, Florida in November

and December 2000. [Laughter.]

I want to point...

01:04:31 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

I’m not sure you can say that, Senator. But let me

mention one other thing that’s in there that...

01:05:36 Nelson, BillU.S. Senator

So too with the proposed two-state solution.

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

01:05:53 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

I recommend that we bring Syria across and get

them to get Hamas to acknowledge Israel’s right...

01:06:12 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Senator, there are a lot of moderate Arabs that

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

01:07:46 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much.

Senator Graham.

01:07:49 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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

contribution...

01:08:16 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

I personally do, but then I’m a former marine.

01:08:18 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I do as well.

01:08:20 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

We may have to draft you back into the Service

here.

01:08:23 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

correct the record. I am a marine.

01:08:25 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

You’re always a marine. Once a marine, always

a marine.

01:08:27 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

That’s right.

01:08:29 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

I’m glad you’re on our side, then and now.

01:08:29 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

That’s right.

01:08:30 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

Now, to me the heart of the matter is, we can

differ about how to go forward and that’s okay,...

01:09:01 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

I think so.

01:09:06 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Our whole premise of the policy is that they are.

01:09:11 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

Okay. The second question is——

01:09:13 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Excuse me. The whole premise of our policy suggestions

in our report is that they are.

01:09:20 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

That’s important for the country to hear, because

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

01:09:26 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I think I do agree with it. Your judgment on that

would be better than mine. Now, I don’t want...

01:09:34 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

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

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

01:09:44 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

There are a lot of pundits writing now about how

the Iraqi government will never be able to...

01:10:00 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

But you both believe, after having analyzed the

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

01:10:08 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Yes.

01:10:08 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

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

hugely important.

01:10:12 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

That’s where the debate is, and I don’t want

to monopolize more than my time.

Last question....

01:10:28 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

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

01:10:35 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

The outcome affects the overall war on terror?

01:10:38 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

It certainly does.

01:10:39 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

Mr. Hamilton?

01:10:40 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

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

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

01:10:59 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

Well said.

01:10:59 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you very much.

01:11:00 Graham, LindseyU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

01:11:01 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Clinton.

01:11:02 Clinton, Hillary RodhamU.S. Senator

Thank you very much again, gentlemen, for

your service to our country once again. I think you...

01:12:06 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

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

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

01:12:39 Clinton, Hillary RodhamU.S. Senator

But let me follow up and ask about our own

Government, because you have a series of recommendations...

01:13:47 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

to praising this report, which many...

01:14:44 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Congress is a co-equal branch of Government. I

frankly am not that impressed with what Congress...

01:15:38 Clinton, Hillary RodhamU.S. Senator

Thank you.

01:15:39 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Thank you.

I feel I must make an observation here. Yes, Congress is very impressed

with...

01:16:23 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

until something better comes along?

01:16:28 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I’ll let your question stand unanswered.

Thank you, dear friend. I know you too well.

Senator...

01:16:37 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Gentlemen, let me add my word of thanks. I

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

01:18:54 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

That’s correct.

01:18:56 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

There are some who’ve criticized the President

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

01:19:10 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Further to that, Senator, the President authorized

his Secretary of State to attend a meeting...

01:19:31 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

You’ve been around this city a lot longer than

I have, but sometimes these positions appear...

01:19:42 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Before you ask the second question, may I just say

something about the ‘‘shape up or ship out’’?...

01:20:27 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

My last question is, you recommend that the

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

01:20:40 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Because he’s a very important leader in the country.

We had described to us again and again...

01:21:46 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

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

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

01:21:54 Cornyn, JohnU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

01:21:58 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Senator Dayton, would you indulge me? I

wish to go vote.

01:22:00 Dayton, MarkU.S. Senator

Yes.

01:22:01 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Then Senator Levin and Senator Thune will

resume.

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

01:22:29 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Absolutely. I understand that, Senator. Absolutely.

01:22:32 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

Then have some input. Now, practically

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

01:22:44 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Absolutely.

01:22:45 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

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

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

01:22:51 Levin, CarlU.S. Senator

With the President, indeed we made that point.

The chairman made it to the President.

He...

01:23:09 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I just ask one observation that perplexes me

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

01:24:26 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Senator, this is the first time to my knowledge that

you’ve ever had a state that has been dominated...

01:25:24 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I thank you both very much, and I must depart

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

01:25:44 Baker, James A. IIICo-Chairman

Senator Warner, thank you. I want to add my appreciation

to that of Congressman Hamilton. I...

01:26:07 Warner, John W.U.S. Senator

I thank you with a great sense of humility

for that recognition.

Senator Dayton.

01:26:14 Dayton, MarkU.S. Senator

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, gentlemen, both for your service. Some cynic was

quoted...

01:26:44 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

I think we reject the idea that the situation is

hopeless.

01:26:48 Dayton, MarkU.S. Senator

So it’s not a one. Where are we on that spectrum

from hopeless to successful?

01:26:52 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

Oh, my mind doesn’t think in those quantitative

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

01:27:32 Dayton, MarkU.S. Senator

I understand. This leads into my next question,

which is: To get to the point where your recommendations...

01:28:08 Hamilton, Lee H.Co-Chairman

There certainly is that point and we’re perilously

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

01:28:27 Dayton, MarkU.S. Senator

Mr. Chairman, I’ll let our distinguished visitors

move on.

01:28:31 Levin, CarlU.S. Senator

Thank you.

Has Senator Nelson had an opportunity?

01:28:35 Nelson, BillU.S. Senator

Yes.

01:28:36 Levin, CarlU.S. Senator

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

not just your contribution to this Nation and...

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PEOPLE GRID LIST

  • Baker, James A. III
  • Hamilton, Lee H.
  • Byrd, Robert C.
  • Chambliss, Saxby
  • Clinton, Hillary Rodham
  • Collins, Susan M.
  • Cornyn, John
  • Dayton, Mark
  • Graham, Lindsey
  • Inhofe, James M.
  • Levin, Carl
  • Lieberman, Joseph
  • McCain, John S. III
  • Nelson, Bill
  • Reed, John "Jack" F.
  • Warner, John W.

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