9.6 |
27 June 2007 to April 2008
987.
Ambassador
Crocker described newly passed laws as “not perfect and
much
depends on
their implementation, but they are important steps”. He pointed to
the
importance
of the Council of Representatives as a functioning institution and
also
highlighted
the “intangibles” – the attitudes among the population and the
conversations
occurring
among Iraqi leaders – stating: “The security improvements of the
past months
have
diminished the atmosphere of suspicion and allowed for acts of
humanity that
transcend
sectarian identities.”
988.
Ambassador
Crocker concluded:
“… almost
everything about Iraq is difficult. It will continue to be
difficult as Iraqis
struggle
with the damage and trauma inflicted by 35 years of totalitarian
Ba’athist
rule. But
hard does not mean hopeless, and the political and economic process
of
the past
few months is significant. I must underscore, however, that these
gains
are
fragile, and they are reversible. Americans have invested a great
deal in Iraq,
in blood as
well as treasure, and they have the right to ask whether this is
worth it,
whether it
is now time to walk away and let the Iraqis fend for themselves.
Iraq has
the
potential to develop into a stable, secure multi-ethnic,
multi-sectarian democracy
under the
rule of law. Whether it realizes that potential is ultimately up to
the Iraqi
people. Our
support, however, will continue to be critical. I said in September
that
I cannot
guarantee success in Iraq. That is still the case, although I think
we are
now closer.
I remain convinced that a major departure from our current
engagement
would bring
failure, and we have to be clear with ourselves about what
failure
would mean.”
989.
Gen Petraeus
described “significant but uneven security progress” since
the
previous
Congressional hearing in September 2007. He highlighted that levels
of
violence
and civilian deaths had been reduced substantially, that extremist
elements had
been “dealt
serious blows” and that the capability of Iraqi Security Forces had
grown.
Like
Ambassador Crocker, he warned:
“Nonetheless,
the situation in certain areas is still unsatisfactory and
innumerable
challenges
remain. Moreover, as events in the past two weeks [the Charge of
the
Knights]
have reminded us and I have repeatedly cautioned, the progress
made
since last
spring is fragile and reversible.”
990.
Both
Ambassador Crocker and Gen Petraeus referred to the situation in
Basra.
Ambassador
Crocker stated:
“News from
Iraq in recent weeks has been dominated by the situation in
Basra.
Taken as a
snapshot, with scenes of increasing violence, and masked gunmen in
the
streets, it
is hard to see how this situation supports a narrative of progress
in Iraq.
There is
still very much to be done to bring full government control to the
streets of
Basra and
eliminate entrenched extremist, criminal, and militia
groups.
365