Petraeus faces presidential hopefuls

updated 7:05 p.m. ET April 8, 2008

WASHINGTON - The top military commander in Iraq faced the likely next commander in chief Tuesday, delivering a status report that could shape the campaign for the presidency.

All three candidates — Sens. John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — sit on committees that received an assessment of the war's progress from Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker.

Their political division over the war — McCain supports a continuation while the Democrats say they would withdraw troops — spilled over into the congressional hearing room. Clinton began her appearance by chastising McCain — without mentioning him by name — for saying Democratic calls for a withdrawal are irresponsible and show a "lack of leadership."

Obama, who had earlier in the day criticized McCain for supporting the war from the beginning, pressed Petraeus and Crocker for a standard of success.

Rarely does a congressional event draw the candidates away from the campaign trail in the midst of a closely fought race, but the general's appearance gave them an opportunity to restate their position on the war while interacting with the military brass one of them will command come January.

McCain and Clinton serve on the Armed Services Committee, which heard from Petraeus and Crocker in the morning. Obama serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

McCain: Troops in Iraq for years to come
The four-term Arizona senator asked Petraeus about the Iraqi government's military operation to quell violence in Basra, recent attacks on the U.S.-occupied Green Zone, the threat al-Qaida poses in Iraq and Iranian involvement. He also asked Crocker about the likelihood of a long-term security arrangement in Iraq.

It was a direct line of questioning that appeared designed to generate answers that would bolster McCain's argument that despite the recent flashes of violence, the United States should maintain its troop presence in Iraq and withdrawal — as Democrats favor — would prove disastrous.

At the same time, McCain was able to put both officials on record that a certain level of troops is likely to remain in Iraq for years to come. Crocker agreed with that assessment. McCain has said U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 100 years, citing the half-century or longer U.S. presence in South Korea and other parts of the world where forces are based to deter conflict, not fight one.

Democrats have criticized McCain, contending that he backs a 100-year war.

Video McCain questions Petraeus April 8: Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain questions Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker during a Senate hearing. MSNBC

Earlier, in his opening statement, McCain put a positive spin on developments in Iraq over the past year, saying security has improved dramatically and political reconciliation has moved forward since the United States shifted course from what he called four years of mismanagement that brought the U.S.-led war "almost to the point of no return."

He argued that "much more needs to be done" on security, political and economic fronts, but that "we are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat, and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success."

"I do not want to keep our troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there. Our goal — my goal — is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops," McCain said in a nine-minute statement. "And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine. But I also believe that to promise a withdrawal of our forces, regardless of the consequences, would constitute a failure of political and moral leadership."

Clinton: War diverts military resources
Clearly at odds with McCain, the New York senator argued that there has been a lack of political progress in Iraq to justify the increase in troops last year.

"I fundamentally disagree," Clinton said of McCain's criticism of Democrats, reading from prepared remarks that aides said she wrote. "Rather, I think it could be fair to say that it might well be irresponsible to continue the policy that has not produced the results that have been promised time and time again."

She said the fight diverts military resources from other needs around the world. She also cited studies on the increased mental strain on troops serving repeat deployments, with more than a quarter showing signs of anxiety, depression and acute stress.

She placed the blame not just on President Bush, but also supporters of his policy — in other words, McCain.

"The administration and supporters of the administration's policy often talk about the cost of leaving Iraq, yet ignore the greater costs of continuing the same failed policy," she said, reading from prepared remarks that aides said she wrote.

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