Top Democrats pressed their case that the U.S. should cut their losses and pull out of Iraq, disregarding warnings by Gen. David H. Petreaus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker that a retreat will plunge the region into chaos.Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton, a Missouri Democrat, pushed the two men, who were giving testimony for a second day. "Iraq was invaded on incorrect information," said Mr. Skelton. "The turbulent aftermath following the initial military victory was not considered despite warnings of the aftermath, including two such warnings from me. Now we are in our sixth year of attempting to quell this horrendous aftermath."
Gen. Petraeus, who was scheduled to give the war report mandated by the Democrat-led Congress, said the U.S. troop surge had drastically reduced violence and helped the Iraqi government take control of about half the country's 18 provinces.
When pressed by Mr. Skelton on how the Iraqi Security Forces are handling the current uprising in Basra and Sadr City, a Shi'ite neighborhood in Baghdad, led by factions of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, Gen. Petraeus said he would give them a "B" or "B-" letter grade. The top commander said that Iraqi government and military have gained control of the port areas of Basra but still have pockets of insurgency that they need to get under control. "The Iraqi Security Forces took control of the ports ... they have also taken control of key areas," Gen. Petreaus said. "There are still some militia strong holds."