John McCain

You are fairly familiar with the Iraqi leadership. You have known these individuals. Based on your experience with them, how effective do you think threats of withdrawal of U.S. troops are in achieving real progress in Iraq?

We have made many mistakes in this war.

Somewhat dismaying that only now, after nearly 4 years at war in Iraq, is the United States moving toward a traditional counterinsurgency strategy.

It is hard to imagine a more important military nomination than that of General David Petraeus.

It is absolutely imperative that they seize this opportunity.

I am confident that you will receive broad support in the Senate.

I hope we can, at the completion of the testimony today, move quickly forward to the vote on General Petraeus' nomination.

The worst of all worlds be a small, short surge of U.S. forces. We have tried small surges in the past, and they have been ineffective, because our commanders lacked the forces necessary to hold territory after it was cleared.

The ISG report is a recipe for defeat in Iraq.

I have always said we needed more troops in Iraq.

We needed more troops. We needed it very badly.

The dirty little secret is that we don't have enough troops. We need to enlarge the size of the Army and the Marine Corps.

Therefore, the status quo is not acceptable?

We are not winning the war in Iraq; is that correct?

The status quo is not acceptable.

Senator John McCain has said that the Iraqi government needs to break the back of the Mehdi army and bring down Sadr.

We'd love to see more troops there.

We needed more troops. We need it very badly.

The dirty little secret is that we don't have enough troops. We need to enlarge the size of the Army and the Marine Corps.

I've always said we needed more troops in Iraq and obviously most people agree with that now in retrospect.

I respect you enormously. I appreciate your service. I regret deeply that you seem to think that the status quo and the rate of progress we are making is acceptable. I think most Americans do not.

Can we still win? Yes, I believe we can.

I don't understand that tactic, General.

But I would say roughly you need another 20,000 troops in Iraq.

When Americans confront a catastrophe, either natural or manmade, their government across jurisdictions should be organized and ready to deliver bottled drinking water to dehydrated babies and rescue the aged and infirmed trapped in a…