Jeff Sessions

That's not your primary responsibility, that's the State Department's primary responsibility.

I would encourage you to do so and I also think, perhaps, that General Lute's appointment maybe could assist you.

I think that is a big problem for us.

I think it's going to enhance his ability to be effective.

There was a danger in overcommitting American troops in what could be perceived as an occupation mode and not a supportive role, a temporary action.

I think that's important. I think we need some person of your stature, of your experience, to personally get involved in these matters.

I guess what I'm saying is I think somebody needs to look at this and say, adding just a few more DOJ personnel and adding another 10,000 bed spaces may not be close to enough.

Would you agree that one of the key components of any success we might have in Iraq is to make progress in those areas other than just the military?

Thank you, General. We appreciate your willingness to take on this difficult and important task.

I agree. I think for a lot of people, they may not have realized just how much good work has been done for quite a number of years that would bring us to the point of being able to knock down an incoming missile.

So you were actually prepared to launch, if need be, and had confidence that, even though we were early in the process, had a missile threatened the United States, it could have been knocked down?

Prime Minister Maliki is elected. He is a politician like we are.

It is our soldiers there, our policy that we need to execute.

I want you to say that you will break some china if need be to get this thing moving.

I am concerned, General Casey, about our prison and law enforcement system there.

I just want to tell you, I am not happy with that.

You do agree that since such a large percentage of the population is there and it is the capital, that Baghdad must be secured?

I think the American people are uneasy. They are troubled.

It is hard and it is slow, and there are good days and bad days, good months and bad months.

Iraq has turned out to be more complex and difficult and more violent.

But war requires leadership. Leaders make hard decisions. They accept responsibility for their decisions and we live with those decisions.

If you bring in too much support it could erode or lessen the pressure on them to assume responsibility.

Better they do it imperfectly with their own hands than you do it perfectly with yours.

I think you share it, that we want to keep the pressure on the Iraqis to step up their capability so it is their country and their nation that they are defending.

I do not want to send a single person there that is not necessary.