U.S. Conduct of the Iraq War Prior to the Surge

Summary

• Daily carnage in Iraq out of control
• U.S. must make a responsible exit
• We must avoid making things worse

Summary

• Too often U.S. plays defense in Iraq
• Situation deteriorating
• To win we must build up forces

I believe that, having waged a war that has unleashed daily carnage and uncertainty in Iraq, we have to manage our exit in a responsible way - with the hope of leaving a stable foundation for the future, but at the very least taking care not to plunge the country into an even deeper and, perhaps, irreparable crisis.

President Bush speaks frequently of the need to take offensive in the war on terror, but in Iraq we too often appear to be playing defense. The simple truth is that we do not have sufficient forces in Iraq to meet our military objectives. I said this in August, after I returned from visiting Iraq, and before the security situation deteriorated further. It is even more obviously true today ... To win in Iraq, we should increase the number of forces in-country, including Marines and Special Forces, to conduct offensive operations.

November 22, 2005
Chicago, IL
Speech to Chicago Council on Foreign Relations

November 5, 2003
Washington D.C.
Speech to Council on Foreign Relations