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

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

Suppose that we send you additional troops and we tell those troops that, we support you, but we are convinced that you cannot accomplish your mission and we do not support the mission we are sending you on. What effect does that have on…

I know of no successful military operation where you have dual command.

If Iraqi leaders had more fully integrated the Sunni minority into the government, if they had passed an oil distribution law that distributed the revenues more equitably, if they had amended the constitution, if they had held provincial…

I worry that we are both going to confirm you and yet we are going to pass a resolution that says we are not in favor of what you need to succeed.

I hope you know, and will tell this committee, how difficult and arduous this task will be because of the hole that we have dug for ourselves, to a very large degree.

We owe them more and better leadership and a better strategy than we have provided them with in the past, Admiral.

What is your degree of confidence that the Iraqi Government and military are up to the task that we are now embarking on in this new strategy?

I think that Iranian activity, particularly regarding Iraq, has not been helpful, to date.

Eventually there is every likelihood of a scenario of chaos?