Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement today as General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testified before the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees:

“Today’s assessment accurately reflects what I saw on the ground in Iraq last month.  The new strategy is working -- especially militarily.  We are seeing substantial progress in whole regions, like al-Anbar, where they are rejecting al Qaeda and taking back their communities.

“There is no question we need more progress from Iraqi political leaders, but Ambassador Crocker accurately points out that political progress is complex and can’t always be measured by accountants.  Both leaders on the ground in Iraq made it clear that we can begin to draw down troops in the future and still gain from the full benefits of this surge.

“I am convinced that pulling the plug now would be a horrible mistake and I hope that Congress heeds this assessment.”