Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
September 10, 2007

General, Ambassador to Testify to Congress Today About Iraq Progress  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=195ADBC:A6F02AD83191E1601D68E7513FF93C149574F7DCC14957C0 General Petraeus
and US Ambassador to Iraq will testify about impact of President
Bush's troop 'surge' plan before joint hearing of two key House of
Representatives committees The top U.S. military commander and
diplomat in Iraq will tell Congress Monday about the results of an
eight-month U.S. troop buildup in the country.







General David Petraeus (l) and Ambassador Ryan Crocker General David
Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will testify on the impact of
President Bush's troop "surge" plan before a joint hearing of two key
House of Representatives committees.

Various sources have said the two men will tell Congress that the
surge has helped increase Iraqi security. The New York Times quotes a
senior officer as saying Petraeus will ask that any decision on
whether to lower the troop presence to below pre-surge levels be put
off for six months.

The general and the diplomat are also expected to say they are
disappointed by the Iraqi government's slow progress in achieving
national reconciliation. Mr. Bush had argued the surge would allow
reconciliation to take place.

The testimony to a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and
Foreign Affairs Committees will be followed Tuesday by testimony to a
Senate panel. It comes as Congress debates when and how U.S. troops
should leave Iraq.

A new opinion poll indicates a majority of Americans believe that any
reported success in Iraq will be exaggerated.

The Washington Post / ABC News poll says 53 percent of Americans feel
the testimony will "try to make things look better than they are" in
Iraq. Thirty nine percent said they expect the testimony to honestly
reflect the Iraqi situation.

Mr. Bush will address the nation later this week about his plans for
Iraq.




.