Washington - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker:
"Iraq remains a highly unstable and volatile country, far away from a lasting peace or political settlement. The raft of independent reports we have seen in recent weeks has made that clear. The bottom line is that Americans want to know when this war is going to end and when our troops are coming back home. Those answers were not given today, only the suggestion that most American troops will continue to be kept in Iraq indefinitely. That spells a continuation of the 'stay the course' strategy that has brought little success and far too many soldiers lost.
"Today's hearings also make it clear that the original goals of the escalation - to give the Iraqi government and political factions breathing room to achieve reconciliation - have not been met and that success is now being measured in different terms. Moving the goal posts may appease some in Washington, but it does not help us achieve the lasting peace that is ultimately more important.
"Tomorrow, I will have the opportunity to question Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker when they appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I am hoping that we can get concrete answers about bringing this war to an end and bringing our troops home."
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