Day 2 in the Senate

Today's Senate hearings with Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus have been more interesting political theater. I particularly enjoyed when Russ Feingold boxed in Crocker, who was the US Ambassador to Pakistan before leaving for Iraq, by asking him whether or not the safe haven for Al Qaeda in Waziristan is a bigger problem than Al Qaeda in Iraq. This is an important point in the overall strategy of containing and disrupting terror, which after all was given as a proximate reason to attack Iraq. Given that the former Prime Minister of Pakistan was exiled again by a President who acts like a despot, that democracy is on the brink, and that the safe havens are likely where Osama bin Laden is broadcasting new messages on the anniversary of 9/11, I think that the Pakistan question is FAR more important.

Feingold also noted that American casualties have gone up every single month this year compared to last year. Senator Boxer explained that our role has become that of an occupying force, which General Petraeus himself has explained is not optimal.

"There's a half-life on our role here, you wear out your welcome at some point. It doesn't matter how helpful you are. We aren't here to stay."

Joe Biden gave a stirring speech this morning, reframing the debate.

“General Petraeus, you say the numbers show that violence is decreasing. Others, including the independent Government Accountability Office, have different figures and contrary conclusions.

“This debate misses the point.

“The one thing virtually everyone now agrees, is that there is no purely military solution in Iraq. Lasting stability requires a political settlement among the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.

“In announcing the surge, President Bush said its primary purpose was just that: to buy time for a political settlement to emerge.

“And so, the most important questions we must ask are these:

Are we any closer to a lasting political settlement in Iraq at the national level today, than we were when the surge began eight months ago?

And, if we continue the surge for another six months, is there any evidence that Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds will stop killing each other and start governing together?

“In my judgment, the answer to both questions is no.

John Kerry rightly knocked down the argument that the "Anbar miracle" has anything to do with reconciliation and not sheikhs taking over control of their own territory and not giving it up to foreign jihadis, which we ALWAYS KNEW they would not allow. They're not interested in reconciliation, whatsoever.

COOPER: And are these -- these tribal groups willing to work with the central government in Baghdad, the Sunni -- the Shia- dominated government, and vice versa? Is -- is the government of al- Maliki willing to work with -- with these Sunni tribes?

WARE: The answer is no on both counts, Anderson.

These guys made it very clear to us on this day and on other days when I have contact with other groups, they are opposed to the Maliki government and any government that they believe is beholden to Iranian influence, a belief shared by many within the U.S. mission. So, these are anti-government forces that America is supporting against the government it created. And, certainly, within the Iraqi government, they believe that this is America building Sunni militias to act as a counterbalance to their influence -- Anderson.

Michael Ware also gets on the record in that report that we're arming the Sunnis in Al Anbar.

This is about buying time. But the Senate Foreign Relations Committee isn't buying it.

UPDATE: Here's Senator Feingold grilling Crocker and Petraeus.