Hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee

HEADLINE: HEARING OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
 
SUBJECT: LESSONS LEARNED DURING OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ
 
CHAIRED BY: SENATOR JOHN WARNER (R-VA)

WITNESSES: GENERAL TOMMY FRANKS, FORMER COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND; DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

BODY:
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ): General Franks, I want to add my appreciation for your dedicated service and sacrifice for this nation, and your outstanding leadership. I'll reserve any praise for Secretary Rumsfeld until he retires. And I thank you for --

SEC. RUMSFELD: (Laughs.)

SEN. MCCAIN: But please accept the thanks of all America on behalf of your outstanding leadership.

Mr. Secretary, here's what you're hearing today from the committee. A survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press show that 23 percent of respondents think the U.S. military effort in Iraq is going, quote, "very well," far fewer than the 61 to 66 percent that expressed that view during the conflict. And yet at the same time, a large percentage of Americans -- in my view, very appropriately -- think that the decision to go to war was the right thing, as you state.

The problem here is that Americans are unsure about the future of our involvement in Iraq. So, what you need to do, in my view, is give, not just this committee, but the American people -- who hold you in the highest regard and esteem and have the greatest confidence in the president of the United States and his leadership in this conflict -- a concrete plan as much as you can. In other words, how much is it going to cost, roughly; and how long we expect to be there, even if it's a pessimistic scenario; and how many troops are probably going to be required, given that there are certain variables?

In other words, this whole issue of how long are they going to be there, the uncertainty, the seeing the pictures of the wounded or dead American soldiers, are leading to this unease. And I emphasize that's the word, "unease" -- not disaffection, not anger, but unease -- on the part of the American people. And I am convinced without a doubt that when Americans are told what the plan is for postwar Iraq, then I think you will receive overwhelming support on the part of the American people.

I say, in all respect and appreciation for your leadership, every where I go, Americans want to know that. And so I suggest that you have probably been doing that, but probably not in a fashion that the American people either are hearing or understanding what our future is.

But again I want to emphasize, the overwhelming majority of American people think we did the right thing.

Whether weapons of mass destruction are found or not, the overwhelming majority of Americans support this president and your leadership and that of General Franks, but they need to be told; that's all they need. And I think by the tenor of the questions that you have gotten here today, the other senators are reflecting what they're hearing from their constituents. I hope you take that as a constructive comment --

SEC. RUMSFELD: I do.

SEN. MCCAIN: -- which it is intended to be.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Thank you.

SEN. MCCAIN: Thank you.

Now, I'd like to just move quickly to Iran. There's reports today that there's a newly found nuclear site, there's accumulating evidence about Iran. I'd like to know your assessment of the threat, the situation, whether there's any North Korean involvement and, you know -- I guess we need to be -- I'd like to hear a little more information about how you view this situation in this very bad neighborhood.

SEC. RUMSFELD: Senator, the -- as the president has indicated, the situation in Iran is roughly as follows: that the U.S. intelligence community has assessed that they do have a nuclear weapon program. The IAEA has had uneven success in dealing with them. The United States, over successive administrations, has had discussions with Russia, encouraging them to not participate in a cooperative program with them with respect to anything involving a nuclear power plant. It's estimated that the nuclear facility that they're saying they need for energy would produce less energy than the amount of gas that they burn off on an annual basis.

SEN. MCCAIN: Have you seen this report this morning?

SEC. RUMSFELD: I don't know what report you're referring to.

SEN. MCCAIN: "Iranian exiles describe newly found nuclear site." It was carried in a number of newspapers --

SEC. RUMSFELD: I didn't. I have not seen anything in the press this morning. I apologize.

SEN. MCCAIN: You see any North Korean connection?

SEC. RUMSFELD: There has been interaction between North Korea and Iran over a sustained period of time.

I would say one other thing: there are reports, recent reports, of Iranians moving some of their border posts along about a 25- kilometer stretch several kilometers inside of Iraq, obviously not being respectful of Iraq's sovereignty. And certainly, that is behavior that's not acceptable, and they should be staying on their own side of the border.

SEN. MCCAIN: And what action do you think that we should be taking, Mr. Secretary?

SEC. RUMSFELD: I think that the president and the Department of State have been engaged in a variety of diplomatic efforts to try to persuade companies to not participate with Iran in developing their nuclear capabilities. And it takes time to understand the success or lack of success of those efforts.

SEN. MCCAIN: Well, it seems to me we may have to contemplate significantly more, but I hope not, but it's certainly disturbing news.

I thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you again, General. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.