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

We are short thousands of vehicles, armor kits, and other equipment.

There's no military solution in Iraq, and there's no military solution in Afghanistan.

I find deeply troubling.

I think the potential to have tensions continue to ease ought to give us some opportunities to perhaps have the Paks do even more than they're doing.

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.

Current levels of suffering experienced by the Iraqi population should motivate the political leaders to make progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks to you, General Casey, for your years of service, and thanks also to your family because they have served along with you, and we are grateful to all of you.

Could you report back to the committee what your find about the level of cooperation with this report, please?

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 hope we can hear that it has been fixed, because some of these stories coming out of the fighting on Haifa Street...

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

I am very concerned that we are pursuing a policy that, regardless of what one thinks about it or how one evaluates its chances for success, certainly raises the fears that so many of our young men and women are going to be put into very…

Engaging Iran is a policy decision. President Bush and Secretary of State Rice have offered to hold talks with Iran's leaders on Iraq, regional security, and nuclear issues, after they suspend uranium enrichment.

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?

I believe that because of these disturbing reports about equipment shortages we should as we begin to debate the Warner-Levin proposal include provisions that require that adequate equipment and training be mandated so that we do not send…

Are you at this point able to assert with a 100-percent level of confidence to this committee that every soldier being deployed to Iraq as part of this escalation will have all the necessary personal equipment?

Admiral Fallon, how will you tailor the best practices of counterinsurgency to quell the continued sectarian blood letting?