Last month's Petraeus - Crocker, progress in Iraq, dog and pony show provided a forum which allowed them to tell us how well we are progressing in our endeavors to provide peace and stability in Iraq. The format was such that few hard questions were asked and few meaningful answers were given.
General Petraeus informs us:
"There has been significant but uneven security progress in Iraq."
The gains, however, are "fragile and reversible," he says, as he begins to outline a plan for a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation" to follow the end of the "surge" of extra American forces in July, before any more troops would be withdrawn.
"This process will be continuous, with recommendations for further reductions made as conditions permit," he added. "This approach does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable."
NYT
There were no major surprises from Petraeus and Crocker, more wait and see, stall and delay. However there was something new and very significant from the Senators doing the questioning.
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