Representative Heath Shuler issued the following statement in response to the Congressional testimony of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker:

“Yesterday, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testified before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. I have tremendous respect for both men for their dedication and service to our Nation.”

“In January, the President laid out a plan to increase the number of American troops serving in Iraq. He claimed that the surge would give "breathing room" to the Iraqi government so political progress could be made. I spoke out against that surge then because I saw it as nothing more than a continuation of his failed policies. I felt that it did nothing to force the Iraqis to take ownership of their country, to put aside ethnic and religious differences, or to make real and sustainable political progress.”

“There is little evidence that the surge has resulted in political progress being made in Iraq. Our brave men and women in uniform continue to police a civil war, and after nine months, the situation in Iraq remains tragically unstable.”

“The Government Accountability Office reported last week that the Iraqi government has failed to meet 15 of 18 benchmarks for success. A separate report from retired Marine General James Jones declared that Iraq is still far from being able to take over its own security responsibilities. General Jones' report also declared that the Iraqi Interior Ministry, which is charged with maintaining Iraqi security forces, is "dysfunctional" and recommended disbanding the national police force.”

“We cannot create a stable Iraq by focusing solely on military solutions. We have heard this repeatedly from numerous military commanders, including General Petraeus, who has himself said, ‘There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency of Iraq.’ Retired Lieutenant General William Odom has also said, ‘No effective new strategy can be devised for the United States until it begins withdrawing its forces from Iraq. Only that step will break the paralysis that now confronts us.’ I agree with these assessments that we must change our course in Iraq.”

“Yet, General Petraeus recommended that the surge continue at least another year and that America’s military involvement in Iraq last well into the future.”

“An indefinite commitment to staying the course is unacceptable. The time has come for a new direction in Iraq – a direction that prioritizes political stability and forces the Iraqis to become responsible for securing for their own country, thus providing stability in the region. We must remain committed to protecting our Nation while focusing on the defeat of Al-Qaeda and the capture of Osama Bin Laden.”