SFRC hearing

[Inuca]

Conditions in Iraq, witness is ambassador Hill. 2:30 on CSPAN3, and hopefully again later for those of us who work and don't have access to CSPAN3 in any case (nor can watch more than a few minutes online :mad:).

[karynnj]

1. They just joined the SFRC in process - Gibbs press conference just ended

Kerry is reading his opening statement. (They are not on the web site) I missed most of Kerry's statement as it was before this started.

Lugar is speaking of the confident veneer was stripped off with the attacks earlier this year. There are positive signs, but the political concerns were not dealt with in the space the surge provided. We do not know how our troops' withdrawal will occur. He asked if now, we are taking our eyes off the ball in IRAQ, because of Afghanistan - as many say the opposite occurred before.

Can Kirkirk conflict be resolved? Are the neighbors behaving? Iran? Do we see things the same as the Iraqis? Wants best sense of how we are progressing towards 2011.

Hill: Transition from military to civilian role. Iraq in center of Middle East - where Shia meet Sunni - a country where we have interests. Iraq can be a force for stabilization. Will see reduction eventually in civilian US role when they resolve political and economic issues, but we will ramp up first. Iraqi security reacted well to the attacks. They staged 2 successful rounds of voting. National elections in January 2010.

Economic - a work in progress - drought and low oil prices. Need to work with IMF and need to economic reform. First bid round for oil fields - BP won. Needs to do more. They need to start paying own bills and creating a more diverse economy. Hopes planned conference leads to more investments.

Spoke of the tensions with most of its neighbors. Need solutions to long term regional issues. Starting to resolve issues between Arabs and Kurds. UN has important role. 1st milestone removing US troops from city was more important than many thought - this made Iraqis see the US can be trusted. Transition to civilian is not easy. Many things that were done by military need to be done through state department.

Kerry:
What is meant by strengthened civilian role, given the already huge embassy. Hill said that will have to get smaller. Certain tasks that need to be taken up - like police training will be done by state department. Overall funding and footbrint will go down.

Issue of reform - Kerry says Rice spoke of oil issues nearly complete 4 years ago. What is prospect of actually doing this.
Hill - need oil flowing to get economy going - it has been held up 4 years. It is a complex piece of legislation. Realistically it won't be done before January election. But, they did - in June - begin by bidding out one field. Kerry - but if these moneys are just building up - Hill - there is a distribution process.

Asked about Syria/Iraq relations after the bombings. Hill - things on hold in the down turn of the relationship. Iraq angry that Syria gave refuge to Baathists. Concern of foreign fighters in Syria. Possibly Turkish mediation. Maliki spent 18 years of his life in Syria.

Lugar: What is Iraqi view of their security? There are concerns on the part of Iraqis to the abilities of their forces, but their is consensus that it is time that Iraqis protect Iraqis. US best forces and best trainers. Iraqis will do things differently. The Iraqi forces are capable of doing this. the attacks were very wel funded - think back to Oklahoma bombing. They will be challenged but will learn. Would be same if we left in a year or two years.

What security do Americans working have? What security to get the goods and armaments out? Military is working its logistics. Environment still dangerous. terrorists have reason to want attacks high so it looks like little progress. Says the diplomats have to be out in the "red" zone, dangerous, but they use precautions. When they leave they leave with a sense of accomplishment.

Feingold: Says nice to have timeline, but it should be faster. Occupation a bad idea. How do Iraqis feel about commitment to get out by end of 2011 - Hill - they would be angry if date delayed. It helped when we pulled out of the cities. Iraqis want to control their own country. Asked if any changes in agreement will be sent not just to the Iraqi parliament, but to the US Senate - Hill basically said he can't answer. Asks if better to have the military in charge of security at embassy rather than contractors so we have control. Hill - would rather not task military with and that they can control the contractors. Question on coordination between military and state - Hill they have an overall joint plan. When can Senate see it - he'll get back to him.

Corker- 130,000 to 50,000 troops is pretty hard - are you comfortable with logistics - Yes - He explained that very little decrease before election. What about hardware? Where will it go? _ defers to military. Some stuff back to US, some transferred to US civilian some to Iraqis. Croker says no way that Iraq, even with its oil, can support itself. Only recently increased oil. Hill says they will be able to support themselves. He says they need to let other countries help develop them. Corker noted that Obama compares himself favorably to Bush - asks if they intend to fund Iraq via regular budget of supplementals - Hill - not his jurisdiction. Asks him to get written update on UN sanctions. Hill Favorite question says he him.

[karynnj]

2. (cont)

Cardin asked about refugees - Hill some internally displaced people are being brought back to their homes - though that often means evicting the people there. External refugees - very expensive and this is a problem that they are working on. There is concern with safety isses in returning - needs to be done by Iraq. These are the people Iraq needs these people back as they are skilled. Is there diplomatic communication between Iraq and Syria. Maliki was in Syria the day before and their were some economic agreement. Ambassadors recalled, but still communication. Mentioned Iraq went to UN on this and mentioned Syria and other neighbors Sunni - will they accept Shia Iraq (Saddam was Sunni)

Kerry asked where the sources of tension in the Sunni area are coming from. Hill: We want long term relationship with Iraq. If the neighbors saw that Iraq was up for grabs, because we don't care any more. Some real that Shia government is a fluke. Iraq concerned neighbors could try to influence election. Strong Iraq crucial.

Kerry - asked about timing. Iraq may not even have government before we are scheduled to leave. Asked about private whisperings about fear of greater flow of power to Maliki. Election opinions are strong. Also there is feeling that as some ministries are not seen by Maliki as loyal that he has people close to him to do the same thing. Asked about effect of death of someone - I didn't catch name or understand.)

[Inuca]

4. Like being there :-)

thanks Karyn! The death he asked about has Hakim's (I caught the last few minutes on replay in the evening), the leader of one of the main Shia factions.

[wisteria]

3. It is not available on any of the C-Span channels.

I will have to catch it on the web site later on.