Washington, D.C.  - Testifying before Congress, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker delivered their second, long awaited Iraq Progress Report which focused on the United States’ significant but uneven progress and endorsed an open-ended suspension of the American troop withdrawal.  In response, U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) released the following statement:

“I regard the Petraeus-Crocker presentation as positive.  Their testimony strongly reinforces my view that we must move now to lay the groundwork for a systematic reduction of our troop presence in Iraq and change our mission in the region.  If there is any pause in the drawdown of American troops, it must be temporary and coupled with a clear commitment to achieve a major transition this year.

“While our troops have successfully reduced violence and seriously compromised Al-Quaida in Iraq’s capabilities, we need to shift more of the responsibility for security to the Iraqi government.  We need to reduce the burden for Iraq operations on America, in human and financial terms, and be prepared to take up major challenges in other theaters, such as Afghanistan.

“We should acknowledge that the Iraqi government is making belated progress in pursuing political benchmarks by scheduling provincial elections and confronting Shia militias.  Our message to that government and to the Iraqi people must remain consistent:  America supports their freedom, but will pull back its combat troops in coming months.

“This week’s hearings unfortunately continue to feature an ample supply of vacant partisan rhetoric and stale political posturing.  Americans want to see their elected representatives listening rather than talking past each other and working together for an honorable exit strategy that protects U.S. interests and reputation.”

An independent voice in U.S.-Iraq policy, English voted against the troop surge, has long supported the Iraq Study Group recommendations, and endorsed the “Bipartisan Compact on Iraq Debate.” As sponsor of the House passed Tanner-Abercrombie-English (H.R. 3087) bill, English has been a vocal advocate of reducing the American footprint in Iraq.

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