i hate having to ride first. i can never finish running. but those are all full. so off we ride.
run: 18:00 min, 7.5 spd, 2.23 miles
ride: 29:55 min, 82 rpm, 8.5 miles
...
in a foreign relations committee on iraq and cungaleezas rice is gonna testify! should be fun. and here she is.
lugar
biden: wants monthly hearings for iraq. doesn't feel like there have been enough appearances. thinks insurgency will resurface b/c of majority of sunnis that rejected. priorities: bring sunnis more into political process. how many do we need to get trained before we can begin to leave?
rice: clear, hold, build. 9 mil voted. dec vote. must break back of insurg. turn corner economically. civilian/military partnership. forces have now gone the offensive. concerned about syria border. syria/iran must choose. majority under independence iraq military control.
lugar: how do we change military strat to enlarge to other areas? if iraq is the place for them, how do we fight that?
rice: we are in broad war. root cause of problem is freedom deficit. (what about israeli/palestinian conflict?) winning iraq is pillar to help end the deficit.
biden: when does pres believe we can bring some home?
rice: no timetable.
biden: not looking for timetable. assuming strategy works, when?
rice: there are 91 iraqi combats.
biden: why hesitate to make contact group?
rice: we do have groups to meet w/ iraqis. we don't formalize it b/c it will exclude people international community needs to be more involved especially neighbors. we are looking at progress in holding areas that we take. those are the benchmarks.
hagel: ksa?
rice: they are helping.
hagel: regional security. UN sponsored after new gov.
rice: is it in line w/ iraq's needs. we need to know its agenda. we want more UN involvement.
hagel: syria & iran?
rice: trips to syria. considered contacts that might be useful. iran's gov is going in the wrong direction maybe.
candice is so annoying b/c she keeps asking me who each senator is.
rice: we are putting our main focus on syria and their borders.
hagel: iranian influence in iraq?
rice: no.
dodd: come here more. policy for syria? military action?
rice: the course is diplomatic one. use military power to clear towns and put pressure on diplomatic league.
dodd: iran?
rice: brits have diplomatic ties to them. we have some.
dodd: sunnis' no vote.
rice: there is an amendment process w/i const. sunnis will now be a big part of.
chaffey: funding. establish security, gaining out/support, rebuild infrastructure.
rice: making progress on security.
chaffey: is there really a roadmap for israel? we must stop settlement expansion.
rice: blah blah.
chaffey:
rice: 30,000 haven't moved into w. bank.
sarbaines: does this once a year thing, is it adequate?
rice: i enjoy the opp to come.
sarbaines: do we entertain military in syria? w/ auth of congress. is such action wise?
rice: pres doesn't take options off table. he has authority of commander in chief. won't judge what pres will do in hypothetical situation.
rice: (earlier: use oil rev from neighbors and help rebuild) security problems make it hard to disperse $. maybe a bill of $18 bil.
sarbaines: other missions for freedom deficits elsewhere? other regimes to use military on?
rice: we are available to citizens. middle east reform is a military thing.
sarbaines: 5 years, 10 years in iraq?
rice: no answer. there is progress. we are moving on course where iraqis will have their own security.
now i'm in some senate health committee hearing only so i can check off my senators on my list that i've heard live. so far i'm up to twelve. senator burr #13. murray. employee freedom awards for hiring vets and treating military employers and their families from the DoD. employment issues for returning national guard and reserve soldiers. jeffords. tax credit to small business for the hassle.
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