House of War

General Petraeus reports to Congress:

As a bottom line up front, the military objectives of the surge are, in large measure, being met. In recent months, in the face of tough enemies and the brutal summer heat of Iraq, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces have achieved progress in the security arena. Though the improvements have been uneven across Iraq, the overall number of security incidents in Iraq has declined in 8 of the past 12 weeks, with the numbers of incidents in the last two weeks at the lowest levels seen since June 2006.

One reason for the decline in incidents is that Coalition and Iraqi forces have dealt significant blows to Al Qaeda-Iraq. Though Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Iraq remain dangerous, we have taken away a number of their sanctuaries and gained the initiative in many areas.

We have also disrupted Shia militia extremists, capturing the head and numerous other leaders of the Iranian-supported Special Groups, along with a senior Lebanese Hezbollah operative supporting Iran’s activities in Iraq.

Coalition and Iraqi operations have helped reduce ethno-sectarian violence, as well, bringing down the number of ethno-sectarian deaths substantially in Baghdad and across Iraq since the height of the sectarian violence last December. The number of overall civilian deaths has also declined during this period, although the numbers in each area are still at troubling levels.

Iraqi Security Forces have also continued to grow and to shoulder more of the load, albeit slowly and amid continuing concerns about the sectarian tendencies of some elements in their ranks. In general, however, Iraqi elements have been standing and fighting and sustaining tough losses, and they have taken the lead in operations in many areas.

Additionally, in what may be the most significant development of the past 8 months, the tribal rejection of Al Qaeda that started in Anbar Province and helped produce such significant change there has now spread to a number of other locations as well….

The post at SWJ includes the full transcript and briefing slides for both General Petraeus’ and Ambassador Crocker’s Congressional testimonies.

Additional Assessment:

Col. Pat Lang - Petraeus and Crocker - Intersting

B. Smith & J. Martin - The Candidates Respond to Petraeus

E.J. Dionne - The Surge Has Succeeded… in Washington

Michael Yon - Don’t Ask Me What I Think about the Petraeus Report

Thomas P.M. Barnett - Petraeus’ report was everything we were told it would be

Karen DeYoung & Thomas Ricks - The General’s Long View Could Cut Withdrawal Debate Short

Jonathan Rauch - Be Angry… but Patient

Jacob Laksin - Surgin’ General

Frederick W. Kagan - No Middle Way

Tony Bey - Gen. Petraeus on Iran, Hezbollah and Syria in Iraq

The Times editorial - Listen to Petraeus

Gerard Baker - General Petraeus polarises Washington

Babak Dehghanpisheh & John Barry - The Brains Behind the Petraeus Iraq Report