George Casey
George Casey
large lead level means numbers totally
Level 1 is being totally independent, and we know they're not going to be there in large numbers for a while. But they're already getting to level 2, which means they can get into and lead the fight.
critical days next
The next 75 days are going to be critical for what happens,
afraid armed committed forces iraqis members people tough understand
It is important for the American people to understand that we should not be afraid of this fight, ... This is a tough fight. Their armed forces members are committed to this. The Iraqis are committed to this.
expect insurgency lots tough work
There is still lots of tough work to do and we should expect the insurgency not to just go away because there were elections.
constitution looked national perception
We've looked for the constitution to be a national pact, and the perception now is that it's not.
armed base capability forces fully iraqi recognize support
We fully recognize that Iraqi armed forces will not have an independent capability for some time, because they don't have the institutional base to support them,
three
What's important is ... is that the one and three are irrelevant,
certainly expect forces military police render
We certainly do expect that there is some infiltration of the police and ... the military forces, ... But we don't see it in the way that would render these forces incapable.
coalition directly draw iraqi milestones numbers tie timeline
We do not have a timeline or milestones that directly tie the draw down of coalition units to numbers of Iraqi battalions,
aspects constitution december elections referendum
The referendum on the constitution and the elections at the end of December are the most important aspects of what we're doing now.
expect gradually insurgency
We should expect the insurgency not to just go away, but to gradually reduce.
happens progress steps taking yield
We say we make progress relentlessly in little steps a day at a time. And we just keep taking little steps. And every once in a while, you get to see what happens when all those little steps yield something.
coalition exists forces
the possibility for condition-based reductions of coalition forces still exists for 2006.
daily fighting forward improving side
We are fighting with them side by side on a daily basis, improving their capabilities day by day, ... We are measuring this very carefully, and we're not going forward with this capriciously.