ICYMI VIDEO: Kline Presses Senior Military Leaders on U.S. Mission in Iraq

Statement

Minnesota Congressman John Kline, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, recently pressed our nation's top defense officials on our strategy in, and the current state of, Iraq. The hearing on "U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Middle East" included Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter, and General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"I was looking at the preparation sheet for today's hearing, "U.S. Policy and Strategy in the Middle East,' I think we concluded that we don't have a strategy. In fact, the Commander in Chief said we didn't really have a strategy. So, I'm a little bit mystified by exactly what we're doing here since we don't have a strategy.

"And I'm looking at the situation in Iraq. I was over there in Baghdad a couple of months ago around the Easter timeframe, and I was talking to troops there. We've got over 3,000 troops on the ground -- boots on the ground -- they're a little frustrated because I don't think they understand, and how could they, what the strategy is if you haven't clearly articulated that. And now we're going to send 450 more people over there and, again, to execute a strategy that we don't know yet.

"As I look at Iraq…I've watched the situation change and at one point it looked like we were doing well after the surge, and then we saw ISIS come pouring across the border, and cities start to fall, and Baghdad is being threatened.

"And so, I guess my question is where are we in Iraq today? Are we winning? Are we losing? Is it a stalemate? Is it a quagmire? What is Iraq today?"

Source