George Casey
George Casey
cycle heard involved planning positive
They were involved in about a monthlong planning cycle with us. And they were well-integrated with us. ... I've heard nothing but positive things about how they performed,
battalions concerned good level progress year
A year from now, if there are not more battalions at level one I will be concerned. Right now, I am not. I am concerned about level two and we are making very good progress there,
amount degrees ice judging laid looks
It got down to about 20 degrees by 4 a.m., but judging by the amount of ice we laid down, it looks like we got through okay. But it was a very long night.
attentive casey concerned general obviously troops
And it's obviously something that one has to be attentive to. It's obviously something that General Casey and his troops are attentive to and have to be concerned about,
coalition critical element forces reduction
Conditions-based reduction of coalition forces is a critical element of our strategy,
battalions level year
In a year from now, if there's not more battalions at Level One, I'll be concerned. Right now, I'm not,
caused change compact constitution division national situation
Now this constitution has come out, and it didn't come out as the national compact that we thought it was going to be. And there's division there, ... And that caused the situation to change a little bit.
caused change division situation
And there's division there ... and that caused the situation to change a little bit,
forceful senator
I would not say necessarily as forceful as Senator Levin just put it,
coalition element forces iraqi key presence reducing remains security transition ultimately visibility
reducing the visibility and ultimately the presence of coalition forces as we transition to Iraqi security self-reliance remains a key element of our counter-insurgency strategy.
concerned next
Next year, at this time, I'll be much more concerned about it. Right now, I'm not,
good open price
I think we'll open up with a good price. What's a good price I don't know.
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.
three
What's important is ... is that the one and three are irrelevant,