Orrin G. Hatch

“ There’s a radically new war plan under way in Baghdad right now. For the past four years, US troops have been on main bases, most of them outside the city center, some of them in Baghdad itself, and then have been effectively been commuting to work. Now they live at work, there’re living in small forward operating bases... It is a very different strategy. We’re seeing foot patrols again that we haven’t seen in Baghdad for a long time, more hearts and minds campaign... It’s very much a new war. ”

“ His words still echo today: “These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. ”

“ Indeed, one of the members of my own party, who has authored legislation disagreeing with this new strategy -- despite voting for the nomination of its implementer General Petraeus -- stated that Iraqi forces “while they’re not fully independently capable of operating, they’re excellent and trustworthy and fighting hard with our troops today... I would be willing to serve alongside those Iraqi forces.”
I believe that it is also important to add that that, as of last week, three of the four Iraqi battalions that recently entered Baghdad were at above 100 percent troop strength. ”

“ This is accomplished -- not just by conducting operations to clear an area of insurgents -- but by maintaining an American/Iraqi security force in cleared areas which assists in providing essential services such as clean water and power to the local population. This, in turn, creates conditions where the Iraqi people can begin to develop a growing economy and where families feel safe to send their children to school. ”

“ A key principle of the new strategy is to enhance and strengthen our efforts to advise and train the Iraqi military and police forces so that they may eventually take over primary responsibility for the defense of their own nation. ”

“ As one prominent Democrat stated, before he reversed his position and announced his intention to run for President: “...we cannot and will not retreat. We will defend ourselves and defeat the enemies of freedom and progress.” ”

“ A Transition Team is composed of a group of advisors, primarily officers and seasoned non-commissioned officers, who serve with Iraqi units from those units’ inception, including basic and advanced training and eventually combat operations. ”

“ As these goals are achieved, more and more of the population will desire even greater stability and will support and work toward creating Iraqi government institutions and security services that maintain and enhance this new security environment. ”