For the president to say, as he said on several occasions, he is going to leave this to his successor -- this is his war. He conceived it poorly. He executed it incompetently. He's pursuing a strategy that is really more of the same.

I think the president has made a lot mistakes, and his judgment in the undertaking in Iraq, certainly, has not been borne out.

I know that you are in the process of confirmation, and that it may be difficult to give specific answers to some of these questions, because you're not yet confirmed.

I would just underscore this, that this has to continue, and has to be focused.

It appears that the political progress is not occurring, and this is something that our chairman has been particularly focused on.

The political problems that the Iraqis are failing to address will, unfortunately, require that we take a different strategic attitude toward Iraq.

I think it is extremely important that we really understand where we're headed, with a new kind of enemy.

Such sales better not be at the expense of the American soldier or marine.

I asked General Petraeus--this was really more of a plea; some have characterized it as a prayer--that we not send our new troops into Baghdad without being fully equipped and ready.

the strategy that is being put forward inspires skepticism for good reason.

I find deeply troubling.

I appreciate that, Admiral, and I would hope, perhaps, that the committee would send a very clear message to Secretary Gates and the Pentagon that we want that assessment done as quickly as possible.

a main tenet of counterinsurgency doctrine is that victory is achieved when the populace consents to the government's legitimacy.

Finally, will each and every soldier being deployed as part of this escalation have all the necessary force protection available to them to perform their mission?

Are you aware of the problems that are apparently cited in this report, as set forth in press accounts of it?

I think that has been an unfortunate hallmark of this administration's policy toward Iraq from the very beginning.

I wish you both well and I thank you for your service.

I have recently corresponded with Secretary Gates, requesting briefings for the appropriate oversight committees.