Reduction in foreign fighters in western Iraq

Col. Pat Malay, a regimental commander in western Iraq says that the difference in foreign fighters between his first tour and his current tour in Iraq is dramatic. (0:29)
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Al Anbar province ready for Iraqi control

Col. Pat Malay, a regimental commander in western Iraq says that Al Anbar province is on the brink of transition to Iraqi security and provincial governance control. (0:26)
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Iranian activity on the rise in Iraq says Chairman

Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, says that there is the impression that Iranian influence has increased after the fighting in Basra between Iraqi security forces and illegal Shiite militias. (0:33)
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Basra fight an eye-opener for Iraqi government

Secretary Robert Gates says that the recent attacks on Shiite militias in Basra served as an "eye-opener" for the Iraqi government in terms of seeing the influence of Iran in supporting illegal militias. (0:38)
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Sadr an enigma

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen says that he feels Muqtada al Sadr is an enigma who has been helpful to peace in Iraq, but also has proved a negative influence in the last few weeks in attacks in Basra. (0:40)
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Senator Levin gets tough on Secretary Gates

Senator Levin discusses differences in the testimonies of Secretary Gates and General Petraeus. He also disagrees with the Secretary going off of "hope."(1:29)
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Secretary Gates discusses war in the past, and hopes for the future

Secretary Gates discusses division in opinions on war and hopes for the future of the war. (0:48)
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Secretary Gates discusses Iraq

Secretary Gates discusses progress in Iraq and the decision making process(1:05)
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Agreement will not establish permanent bases, Ambassador Satterfield says

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Negotiating a Long Term Relationship with Iraq," Ambassador David Satterfield says the framework [of the agreement] will not include a binding agreement to defend Iraq, establish permanent bases, or specify the number of American troops to be stationed there. (0:25)
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Ambassador Satterfield says we owe it to our troops to obtain them protection

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Negotiating a Long Term Relationship with Iraq," Ambassador David Satterfield says the status of forces agreement will set the basic parameters for the US presence in Iraq, and the protections necessary for our troops to operate effectively. The provisions are vital, he says, and we owe it to our troops to obtain for them the protections they enjoy elsewhere in the world. (0:22)
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Deliberations should be transparent, Senator Lugar says

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Negotiating a Long Term Relationship with Iraq," Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) says that they know Iraq presents and "extraordinarily complex environment" for U.S. troops. Future scenarios include things related to ethnic strife, competing militias, internal territorial disputes, terrorist attacks, foreign incursions, or even coup attempts. The legal issues, he says, are not a reason to avoid talks with the Iraqis, but it's essential that the Administration be fully transparent about their intentions and deliberations. (0:36)
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Not unusual for US presence in other countries, says Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) says she thinks it’s important for Americans to realize that we have a presence in over 80 countries around the world. I believe this summer is the conclusion of the UN resolution that gave us the authority to have a military presence in Iraq, she says, and between now and then there is going to be negotiations between us and Iraq, on what our relationship is going to be with Iraq. I think it’s important, she says, that it’s not that unusual for the US to have a presence in another country for a period of time. (0:54)
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#1 responsibility is to protect Americans, says Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) says her biggest goal [in Iraq] is protecting the country. The number one responsibility of Congress is to protect Americans. It is important that we see a stabilized Iraq, and that she thinks that is in the best interest of the USA. Success, she says, is when Iraq is stable enough to protect itself, when there is political stability that is self-governing, and the ability to support itself economically. (1:38)
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Congressman Davis says stable Iraq is ideal scenario

In response to my question, “So what’s going to constitute a victory?”, Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) says the ideal scenario is a stable Iraq that is governed by the rule of law. He says as an obligation to those with whom he served, we’ve got to make sure they’ve got all the support they need, and their voices are heard on the Hill. It’s important that if we say we support the troops, that we listen to what they say from the ground. It would be a "tragedy of generational proportions” to consign our military to defeat, when they believe they can bring stability in this. (1:09)
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Congressman Forbes defines 'what is defeat'

Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) says he thinks that it’s difficult to tell what absolute victory is, but victory is when the Iraqis can create an Iraq that is capable to provide their own stability. We can very easily define what defeat looks like, he says, and that’s to put our men and women on ships and bring them home prematurely and lose all we have gained. (0:44)
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Tribes like the "Sopranos"

Explaining the recent attitude shift of Sunni Arabs in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Multinational Forces Iraq, talks about the tribes in Iraq comparing them to the television show "The Sopranos," while testifying before the House Foreign Relations Committee (0:41)
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Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) talks about Iranian involvement in Iraq

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) discusses Iranian involvement in Iraq. (0:39)
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McCain: Success is within reach

Sen. John McCain explains that we are close to succeeding in Iraq. (0:30)
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McCain talks about the choices Congress can make on Iraq

Presidential hopeful John McCain (R-AZ) on the choices Congress can make regarding U.S. troops in Iraq. (0:29)
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Senator Obama says we should be talking to Iran

At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on "Iraq After the Surge: What Next?" Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) says he thinks the surge has reduced violence and given breathing room, but that breathing room has not been taken the way they would all like it to be taken. The political situation is complicated there, and we have to work vigorously to resolve it. In your own words Ambassador [Ryan Crocker], Obama says, if we increase pressure in a measured way, that, in my mind, includes a timetable for withdrawal. It has to be a diplomatic surge that includes Iran, because if Maliki can tolerate normal neighbor to neighbor relations in Iran, then we should be talking to them as well because I don't believe we are going to be able to stabilize the situation without them. (:28)
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