by Kathy

Washington Post has the transcript of General Petraeus’ testimony here. Here are some of the highlights:

• Number of Security incidents in Iraq has declined in 8 of the past 12 weeks; last two weeks at lowest levels since June 2006.
• Removal of Al Qaeda sanctuaries in many areas.
• Distruption of Shiite militia; captured head and numerous other leaders of Iranian-supported groups.
• Targeted Shia militia extremists, capturing a number of senior leaders and fighters, as well as the deputy commander of Lebanese Hezbollah Department 2800, the organization created to support the training, arming, funding — in some cases — direction of the militia extremists by the Iranian Republican Guard Corps Quds Force.
• Detained the senior Iraqi leader of Al Qaida Iraq, and killed or captured nearly 100 other key leaders and some 2,500 rank-and-file fighters.
• Reduction in ethno-sectarian violence in Baghdada and throughout Iraq.
• Dialogue with insurgent groups and tribes which led to additional elements standing up to oppose Al Qaida and other extremists.
• Emphasized the development of the Iraqi security forces.
• Cleared over 4,400 weapons caches
• Attack levels in Anbar have declined from some 1,350 in October 2006, to a bit over 200 in August of this year.

General Petraeus’ recommendations:

I provided recommendations for the way ahead in Iraq to the members of my chain of command and the Joints Chiefs of Staff. The essence of the approach recommended is captured and it’s title: “Security While Transitioning: From leading, to partnering, to overwatch.”

This approach seeks to build on the security improvements our troopers and our Iraqi counterparts have fought so hard to achieve in recent months. It reflects recognition of the importance of securing the population and the imperative of transitioning responsibilities to Iraqi institutions and Iraqi forces as quickly as possible, but without rushing to failure.

It includes substantial support for the continuing development of Iraqi security forces. It also stresses the need to continue the counterinsurgency strategy that we have been employing, but with Iraqis gradually shouldering more of the load.

And it highlights the importance of regional and diplomatic — regional and global diplomatic approaches.

Finally, in recognition of the fact that this war is not only being fought on the ground in Iraq, but also in cyberspace, it also notes the need to contest the enemy’s growing use of that important medium to spread extremism.

The recommendations I provided were informed by operational and strategic considerations. The operational considerations include recognition that military aspects of the surge have achieved progress and generated momentum. Iraqi security forces have continued to grow and have slowly been shouldering more of the security burdens in Iraq.

A mission focused on either population security or transition alone will not be adequate to achieve our objectives. Success against Al Qaida Iraq and Iranian supported militia extremists requires conventional forces as well as special operations forces. And the security in local political situations will enable us to draw down the surge forces.

My recommendations also took into account a number of strategic considerations. Political progress will take place only if sufficient security exists. Long-term U.S. ground force viability will benefit from a force reductions as the surge runs its course.

Regional, global and cyberspace initiatives are critical to success. And Iraqi leaders understandably want to assume greater sovereignty in their country, although, as they recently announced, they do desire a continued presence of coalition forces in Iraq in 2008 under a new U.N. Security Council resolution, and following that, they want to negotiate a long-term security agreement with the United States and other nations.

General Petraeus’ slides for his testimony is here can be found here…

Remember the “The Surge” has only been fully operational since June 2007 and we can already see significant gains.

The Captain’s Quarters has an interesting post written by Col. Joe Repya concerning the recent attack by MoveOn.org on General Petraeus and the vigorously pursue in spite of the evidence that the surge is making significant positive gains.

Here are a couple highlights:

[...] Instead Democrats attack General Petraeus’ report as untruthful, misrepresenting the facts, manipulating and/or “cherry picking the numbers.” All this before General Petraeus even delivers his report to Congress.

As a former soldier I find the idea of surrender in Iraq to be quite contemptible. The American people realize we must be victorious in Iraq. Unconscionably, Senate Democrats, many of the 77 Senators who voted for war authorization, now attack the very people, “OUR TROOPS”, fighting this war. Sorry to state the obvious, but General Petraeus is one of “Our Troops”. To imply that he is untruthful, misrepresents the facts, manipulates the numbers or allows intelligence reports to be “cherry picked” is an insult to all of us who currently serve, have served or will serve in Iraq.

Now go read the rest here.

The Colonel aptly responds to the slanderous garbage put out by MoveOn.org, which they have posted here; it’s entitled: General Petraeus or General Betray Us? Cooking the books for the White House.

and finally; the moonbats were out in full force today at hearing…

Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink activists made fools out of themselves by disrupting the testimony of General Petraeus and Amb. Crocker.