Rep. Ike Skelton Holds a Hearing On U.S. Efforts in Iraq

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Rep. Ike Skelton Holds a Hearing On U.S. Efforts in Iraq

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES HOLDS A HEARING ON U.S. EFFORTS IN IRAQ

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

SPEAKERS: REP. IKE SKELTON, D-MO. CHAIRMAN REP. JOHN M. SPRATT JR., D-S.C. REP. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, D-TEXAS REP. GENE TAYLOR, D-MISS. REP. NEIL ABERCROMBIE, D-HAWAII REP. SILVESTRE REYES, D-TEXAS REP. VIC SNYDER, D-ARK. REP. ADAM SMITH, D-WASH. REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ, D-CALIF. REP. MIKE MCINTYRE, D-N.C. REP. ROBERT A. BRADY, D-PA. REP. ROBERT E. ANDREWS, D-N.J. REP. SUSAN A. DAVIS, D-CALIF. REP. JIM LANGEVIN, D-R.I. REP. RICK LARSEN, D-WASH. REP. JIM COOPER, D-TENN. REP. JIM MARSHALL, D-GA. DEL. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, D-GUAM REP. BRAD ELLSWORTH, D-IND. REP. PATRICK J. MURPHY, D-PA. REP. HANK JOHNSON, D-GA. REP. CAROL SHEA-PORTER, D-N.H. REP. JOE COURTNEY, D-CONN. REP. DAVE LOEBSACK, D-IOWA REP. JOE SESTAK, D-PA. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, D-ARIZ. REP. NIKI TSONGAS, D-MASS. REP. GLENN G. NYE III, D-VA. REP. CHELLIE PINGREE, D-MAINE REP. LARRY KISSELL, D-N.C. REP. MARTIN HEINRICH, D-N.M. REP. FRANK M. KRATOVIL JR., D-MD. REP. ERIC MASSA, D-N.Y. REP. BOBBY BRIGHT, D-ALA. REP. SCOTT MURPHY, D-N.Y.

REP. HOWARD P. "BUCK" MCKEON, R-CALIF. RANKING MEMBER REP. ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, R-MD. REP. WILLIAM M. "MAC" THORNBERRY, R-TEXAS REP. WALTER B. JONES, R-N.C. REP. TODD AKIN, R-MO. REP. J. RANDY FORBES, R-VA. REP. JEFF MILLER, R-FLA. REP. JOE WILSON, R-S.C. REP. FRANK A. LOBIONDO, R-N.J. REP. ROB BISHOP, R-UTAH REP. MICHAEL R. TURNER, R-OHIO REP. JOHN KLINE, R-MINN. REP. MIKE D. ROGERS, R-ALA. REP. TRENT FRANKS, R-ARIZ. REP. BILL SHUSTER, R-PA. REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS, R-WASH. REP. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY, R-TEXAS REP. DOUG LAMBORN, R-COLO REP. ROB WITTMAN, R-VA. REP. TOM ROONEY, R-FLA. REP. MARY FALLIN, R-OKLA. REP. MIKE COFFMAN, R-COLO. REP. DUNCAN D. HUNTER, R-CALIF. REP. JOHN FLEMING, R-LA. REP. TODD R. PLATTS, R-PA.

WITNESSES: RAY ODIERNO, COMMANDING GENERAL, MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE

MICHAEL VICKERS, ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT

[*] SKELTON: Ladies and gentleman, today our committee needs to receive testimony on the status of ongoing U.S. operations in Iraq. Our witnesses today are General Ray Odierno, the commanding general, Multi-National Force Iraq, and the Honorable Michael Vickers, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflicts.

We welcome you, gentlemen.

And General Odierno, this is the first time, I believe, that you have appeared before this committee as such. Is that correct?

ODIERNO: It -- it is, Chairman.

SKELTON: We certainly welcome you.

(CROSSTALK)

SKELTON: On February 27, 2009, President Obama laid out a path for bringing to a close America's long war in Iraq that began with the invasion on March 20, 2003. America's men and woman in uniform have fought heroically to help build a new Iraq, and over 4,300 Americans have died in that cause. We owe them our deep, deep gratitude.

Right now, the United States has about 120,000 to 130,000 combat forces in Iraq, and under the current plan, we will end this year with 11 combat brigades in Iraq, (inaudible) somewhere around 100,000 personnel. We'll maintain that level through the Iraqi elections and for a period after the elections through the termination and formation of a new government.

In August 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end and our force presence will consist of six advise and assist brigades with about 50,000 U.S. military personnel. These brigades and personnel will be slowly withdrawn until December 31, 2011, and as required by the U.S.- Iraq status of forces agreement, no U.S. military personnel will remain in Iraq.

This readjustment in Iraq will not be an easy one for us. It will not be easy, I suspect, for the Iraqis. A simple move of so many troops and so much equipment out of that country will be a significant logistical challenge We have not conducted such a large movement over such a distance since Vietnam and we all know that did not go well.

As par...

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