In early September, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will provide an assessment of President George W. Bush’s surge strategy in Iraq. What are the implications of the forthcoming Petraeus and Crocker reports? How will they impact the state of play in Iraq and the political climate in Washington?
The event will begin with remarks by U.S. senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). He will offer his assessment on the situation in Iraq and preview the upcoming Congressional debates following the status reports by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. Senator Graham will take questions following his remarks.
On the first panel, AEI resident scholar Frederick W. Kagan will be joined by former acting Army chief of staff General Jack Keane and Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution to discuss their impressions from their recent trips to Iraq, and to comment on likely future developments.
The event’s second panel will feature the release of “No Middle Way,” a new AEI report authored by Mr. Kagan and an evaluation of the June 2007 report from the Center for a New American Security entitled “Phased Transition: A Responsible Way Forward and Out of Iraq.” Mr. Kagan will present the key findings of his report. James Miller, defense analyst and co-author of the CNAS report, will provide a response to the AEI report. A question and answer period will follow each of the event’s panels.
