Excerpts From Gen. Casey's Hearing

-- Excerpts from the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday on the confirmation of Gen. George Casey, top U.S. commander in Iraq, to become Army chief of staff.

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"While I do not in any way question your honor, your patriotism or your service to our country, I do question some of the decisions and judgments you have made over the past two and a half years as commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq." _ Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to Casey.

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Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., pressed Casey about Gen. John Abizaid, top U.S. commander for the Middle East, who testified in November that after meeting with top officers in Iraq, new troops were not necessary to improve the situation in Iraq. "Well, if that's our general view, what has changed? Why is _ are you modifying your general view for this surge?"

Casey responded: "What has changed, senator, are several things; one, the development of a plan, a new plan, that was conceived by the Iraqis, in working in concert with us. So there was a plan that laid out requirements for those forces. So just to say, do you need more forces, is one thing. To say, do you need more forces to execute this plan, is quite another. And we do need an additional two brigades to implement that plan."

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McCain asked Casey if he agreed with others regarding Iraq, "that we have a failed policy and we are not winning?"

Casey answered: "Senator, I do not agree that we have a failed policy. I believe the president's new strategy will enhance the policy that we have."

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When McCain asked if Casey thought Baghdad could be secured with fewer than the five brigades called for in the president's plan, Casey responded: "I believe that the job in Baghdad, as it's designed now, can be done with less than that. But having the flexibility to have the other three brigades on a deployment cycle gives us and gives General Petraeus great flexibility. It allows him to make assessments on whether the plan in working or not and to either reinforce success, maintain momentum, or put more forces in a place where the plans are not working."

When Sen. John Warner, R-Va., later questioned him about this issue, Casey said: "I did not want to bring one more American soldier into Iraq than was necessary to accomplish the mission. And so what I asked for was the two brigades and the ability to maintain a reserve in Kuwait in case I needed additional flexibility."

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"I think the prime minister is committed to bringing stability to Baghdad and to the rest of the country. As we agreed on the Baghdad security plan and agreed on the Iraqi command for that, there was no question in my mind that he did not understand that this was the last best chance to succeed." _ Casey said in response to a question from Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., about Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's commitment.

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"The situation in Iraq is certainly not where I thought it would be when I was going out of the door. And I'm no more comfortable with the situation in Iraq than you are or anybody else is." _ Casey in response to a question from Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.

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"I think that a few of the questions that have been asked of you ... are evidence that your situation this morning represents the classic conundrum of military service at the highest level. ... And I believe strongly that military leaders should be held accountable. But certainly, in this situation today _ from a lot of people's perspectives, including my own _ the consequences of what I believe has been a failed strategy should be shared at far higher level." _ Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.