Joe Lieberman

That does give me hope that in fact Sunni, Shia, Kurd, Yizzidi, Shabback, Turkoman, Christian, and all of the other elements of Iraq can, in fact, get along together.

That is great. Thank you.

The two of us have disagreed on some of the policies we have followed in Iraq, and we disagree today.

Your testimony has been very impressive.

I want to make a plea to my colleagues in the Senate.

A Senate-passed resolution of disapproval for this new strategy in Iraq would give the enemy some encouragement, some clear expression that the American people were divided?

I pray that you will succeed similarly in Iraq.

I want to appeal to my colleagues to consider with regard to the resolutions of disapproval or the caps on troops or the cutoff of funds to step back for a moment and give you a chance.

You have said that you believe this new way ahead for Iraq that has been presented, with military, economic, and political components, is in fact a new and different strategy for Iraq than what has been tried thus far; is that correct?

You have also said that you fear that there would be disastrous consequences for Iraq, for the region, for the world economy, and for the United States in the war on terrorism if we exit Iraq prematurely.

You also said, in response to a question from Senator McCain, that adoption of a resolution of disapproval, which is contemplated by our colleagues and probably will be on the Senate floor, disapproval of the new way ahead in Iraq, would…

When you say work, I mean diminish the violence being carried out by the enemies of stability and progress in Iraq, so that the Iraqis can achieve a political and economic solution themselves; is that correct?

You have also said that you understand and appreciate the disappointment of the American people and their representatives here in Congress about the lack of progress in the war in Iraq today.

Thank you, General Petraeus. Thank you for your willingness to serve. Your testimony this morning and your answers to our questions have been excellent.

You have testified that it is not, that most of the people of Iraq, the overwhelming majority, as you have said, quite naturally want to live a better and freer life, and the question is whether we can help their government help them do…

You have been candid about the mistakes that have been made and about the challenges we face, but you have been confident about the way in which we can do better, and I appreciate that.

Basically, we have a very strong reform of the rules by which we govern our ethics and that of those who lobby before us. What is missing is an equal reform of the process which would do that. Nothing in this amendment alters the superior…

I wish to respond to several statements that Senator Bennett made. We will have a fuller debate, I am sure, before he asks for a vote on his amendment. But for the record, for the information of my colleagues, I wish to speak in favor of…

General Petraeus is a combination of extraordinary experience and a real passion about what we're doing in Iraq. He believes we can win. And I think he will infuse that spirit into our forces there and I think make a measurable difference.

I thank him for offering this amendment, which concerns the Ethics in Government Act... I intend to support the Senator's amendment. As has been said, and I will repeat it, the amendment will increase the civil penalties that already exist…

What do you believe, General, would be the effect on the sectarian violence in Iraq?

I think, on that great challenge of our time, the president gets it. And I -- I say that across party lines. And I think he's tried his best to alert America to that danger.

Passage of this vital port security legislation is a tremendous achievement, and I wish to extend thanks to my hardworking staff members, Jason Yanussi and Josh Levy--as well as the staff of all the involved committees--for all their…

I am voting today to remove the budgetary point of order in order to consider the REAL security amendment offered by Senator Reid. In doing so, I am following through on my longstanding commitment to pass and adequately fund all of the key…

To carry this country much farther down the road that we need to travel, I joined with Senators Bayh, Brownback, Coleman, and others last November to introduce S. 2025, the Vehicle and Fuel Choices for American Security Act.