George Casey
George Casey
large lead level means numbers totally
Level 1 is being totally independent, and we know they're not going to be there in large numbers for a while. But they're already getting to level 2, which means they can get into and lead the fight.
battalions concerned good level progress year
A year from now, if there are not more battalions at level one I will be concerned. Right now, I am not. I am concerned about level two and we are making very good progress there,
attacks generate increased insurgency last level seen
The level of attacks they've been able to generate has not increased substantially here over what we've seen in the last year, ... This insurgency is not progressing.
battalions level year
In a year from now, if there's not more battalions at Level One, I'll be concerned. Right now, I'm not,
certainly expect forces military police render
We certainly do expect that there is some infiltration of the police and ... the military forces, ... But we don't see it in the way that would render these forces incapable.
concern force protection readiness share
I share your concern about our Army's operational readiness and force protection posture,
certainly course next
And we certainly do look to do that over the course of next year.
happens progress steps taking yield
We say we make progress relentlessly in little steps a day at a time. And we just keep taking little steps. And every once in a while, you get to see what happens when all those little steps yield something.
expect gradually insurgency
We should expect the insurgency not to just go away, but to gradually reduce.
constitution looked national perception
We've looked for the constitution to be a national pact, and the perception now is that it's not.
begin built capacity iraqi mission seriously talking
We have built enough Iraqi capacity where we can begin talking seriously about transitioning this counterinsurgency mission to them,
asked greater july period question
I think right now we're in a period of a little greater uncertainty than when I was asked that question back in July and March,
coalition directly draw iraqi milestones numbers tie timeline
We do not have a timeline or milestones that directly tie the draw down of coalition units to numbers of Iraqi battalions,
daily fighting forward improving side
We are fighting with them side by side on a daily basis, improving their capabilities day by day, ... We are measuring this very carefully, and we're not going forward with this capriciously.