Senator Kit Bond said reports made over the past two days by General David Patraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker confirm to him that progress is being made in Iraq.
“It is fitting that on this day, as we honor the memory of the victims of 9-11 and their families, that Congress and the nation remain focused on our fight in Iraq,” said Bond. “Our men and women in the military are fighting the Al Qaeda terrorists in Iraq today, so that future generations of Americans will not have to fight them on our own soil tomorrow.”
Bond stressed that both Petraeus and Crocker’s testimony reinforced what he saw first-hand on his trip to Iraq earlier this year and what he has heard from the troops -- the momentum has shifted in our favor in Iraq.
Bond did call the military strategy over the last two years "misdirected," but said the counterinsurgency strategy to "clear, hold and build" has brought Iraqi citizens to "our side in the fight against Al Qaeda."
Still, Bond noted that political progress in Iraq has been slow. "The strain on our troops . . .(has been) too great,” said Bond.
He said the intelligence community agrees that if we withdraw from Iraq before their army and police can maintain security, violence and chaos will spread across the region.
"Winning in Iraq is not only critical to the Middle East, but it is critical to our national security," said Bond.
Bond said defeat in Iraq would give Al Qaeda save have to export terror worldwide. He also said defeat in Iraq would embolden a nuclear-armed Iran.
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