This is a legitimate concern for them. They feel that northern Iraq is being used as a safe haven for terror groups to launch attacks on them.

I would encourage you to have--and I'm sure you will--a particularly realistic view of the Iraqi political leadership.

There is that history we bring to this.

Otherwise I am afraid the Iraqis will not take us seriously and the American people will conclude without consequences this really is more of the same.

I think the best thing we can do to support the morale of our troops and defeat our adversaries is to have a policy that maximizes our chances for success.

Does a hearing like this, with the diversity of opinion that has been expressed here, undermine the morale of our troops?

Many of us feel that it is our responsibility now to step up and to provide better direction to this whole thing.

the American people are willing to be constant and strong in support of a policy they believe is likely to work

Look, we do not want your brave soldiers dying here, either; I want you to leave Baghdad.

They are probably sophisticated enough to take all this in and accept it for whatever it is worth.

I think the Vice President said the other day you cannot run a war by committee.

If he had first choice, he would be doing things differently there.

What can we do to get them to do what is in their own best interests here, what needs to be done?

That is why Senator Levin and I and others keep getting back to the notion of consequences...

I support your nomination and I wish you well.

So what you are saying, General, is that our men and women who wear the uniform really are a lot like Americans back at home? They have diverse opinions, too.

The problem that we face, the dilemma in some of our minds, is that the policy in Iraq has gone terribly wrong.

Sectarian-motivated violence now inhibits political progress, effective governance, and economic development.