Petraeus: Iraq Security Improved, but 'Fragile and Reversible'

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McCain Speaks at Iraq Hearings

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) delivered an opening statement at the start of hearings on the war in Iraq. Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are testifying before the Senate.

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McCain also called on Iraq to use its own money to pay for more projects and programs and to "take on more of the financial burdens borne by American taxpayers."

But he strongly denounced calls by Democrats for what he termed "a reckless and irresponsible withdrawal" from Iraq at a time when the U.S. strategy is succeeding.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said he did not want to keep U.S. troops in Iraq "a minute longer than necessary." But he warned that promising to withdraw forces "regardless of consequences would constitute a failure of political and moral leadership."

Clinton used her turn at the microphone to emphasize the strains that Iraq has put on U.S. forces, saying that more than a quarter of the combat troops sent to Iraq in multiple deployments show signs of anxiety, depression or acute stress.

She also grilled Crocker on the administration's plan to conclude an agreement with Iraq governing the presence of U.S. forces there. Crocker said Maliki plans to bring the agreement to the Iraqi legislature, but he said the Bush administration does not intend to put it before the U.S. Congress.

The veteran diplomat said the accord would be negotiated as "an executive agreement" and would probably not include elements that trigger the Senate's "advise and consent" role.

"I urge you to submit such an agreement to Congress for full consideration," Clinton told Crocker.

Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) told the panel that by his calculation, the current drawdown will leave 10,000 more U.S. troops in Iraq than before last year's buildup, or total troop strength of 141,000. There was no immediate explanation of the figure, which Petraeus did not dispute.

Webb said he understood there was a U.S. "security commitment" to Iraq in the agreement being negotiated, but Crocker said no such provision will be in the accord.