“Today, the Committee meets to receive testimony on the status of ongoing U.S. operations in Iraq.  Our witnesses today are: General Ray Odierno, Commanding General, Multi-National Force—Iraq; and the Honorable Michael Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.

“General Odierno, I believe that this is your first time appearing before the committee.  Welcome.

“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 of March 20, 2003.  America’s men and women in uniform have fought heroically to help build a new Iraq, and over 4,300 have died in that cause.  We owe them our thanks.

“Right now, the United States has about 130,000 combat forces in Iraq.  Under the current plan, we will end this year with 11 combat brigades in Iraq, totaling somewhere around 100,000 personnel.  We will maintain that level through the Iraqi elections and for a period after the elections through the formation of a new government. 

“In August 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end, and our force presence will consist of 6 Advise and Assist Brigades, with about 50,000 U.S. military personnel.  These brigades and personnel will be slowly withdrawn until, by December 31, 2011, as required under the U.S. Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, no U.S. military personnel will remain in Iraq.

“This readjustment in Iraq will not be easy for us or, I suspect, for the Iraqis.  Simply moving so many troops and so much equipment out of Iraq will be a significant logistical challenge.  We have not conducted such a large movement over so much distance since Vietnam, and that did not go well.

“As part of this drawdown, U.S. military commands will consolidate and begin handing over responsibility for a variety of activities to the Iraqis, the U.S. embassy or other U.S. agencies.  I hope our witnesses can address how the planning for this transition is going. 

“For their part, the Iraqis will have to assume full responsibility for internal security, and there are questions if they will be fully capable in that area by the time we leave.  DOD has requested authority to transfer some current U.S. military equipment to the Iraqi Security Forces, and I hope our witnesses will address that.  I also hope they will take a minute to discuss potential future requests for assisting the ISF.

“The Iraqis will also have to come to an agreement on the future of their country, and the elections in January may be crucial in helping them define that.  They have not yet determined how the elections will be carried out, and it remains to be seen if the elections will reinforce sectarian divisions or help create a truly national government.  All of us who watched in horror the ethnic violence of 2006 and 2007 hope dearly for the latter. 

“Finally, the U.S. and Iraq will have to determine our future relationship.  Many view January 1, 2012, as a date when our relations will transform instantly to a normal bilateral relationship.  In some ways, that will likely be true.  But in other ways, it may not be.  Iraq will be incapable of providing fully for its external defense.  Iraq may well continue to need help developing some aspects of its security forces.  And we will continue to have interests in ensuring a stable Iraq, that doesn’t threaten its neighbors or undermine other regional goals.

“I do not expect our witnesses here today to have all the answers to these questions.  The War in Iraq is coming to a close, but my suspicion is that these transitions will take years to work through.  This is the first time General Odierno has appeared before the House Armed Services Committee, but my guess is that he will not be the last U.S. commander in Iraq to do so.

“I now turn to my good friend Buck McKeon, the Ranking Member, for any comments he might care to make.”

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