Bill Nelson: “A couple days ago, we had General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in front of our Senate Armed Services Committee in the…”

“A couple days ago, we had General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in front of our Senate Armed Services Committee in the morning, and then I had a chance to visit with them again in the afternoon in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. These are two very dedicated and bright public servants, and their public service is certainly appreciated, and we expressed that--I think every Senator who questioned them. The bottom line for this Senator from the State of Florida is that if we go back and look at what was the initial reason stated for the surge, which was over a year ago, it was stated that it was to bring some stability and give some time in order that the Sunnis and the Shiites could have more reconciliation so they could start charting a more stable government for themselves. When pressed on whether that political reconciliation had occurred, both General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker said they thought it had. And then when I asked, well, what laws have been passed, they named two or three, as if that were the example of political reconciliation, and I think it would be one indicia. I further asked had those laws been implemented. Of course, with each of the questions that narrowed the focus, the answer was less and less painting a picture that political reconciliation had occurred. We would certainly hope that political reconciliation would occur, because it would clearly be in the interest of the United States that Iraq could be stabilized.”