Yesterday, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, giving an update on the situation in Iraq and recommendations for the way ahead. Petraeus and Crocker both said that while there have been significant security, economic and political gains in Iraq, the situation remains fragile and the progress is reversible if the U.S. does not stay the course.

In part of his testimony, Gen. Petraeus said:
“The recent flare-up in Basrah, southern Iraq, and Baghdad underscored the importance of the ceasefire declared by Moqtada al-Sadr last fall as another factor in the overall reduction in violence. Recently, of course, some militia elements became active again. Though a Sadr standdown order resolved the situation to a degree, the flare-up also highlighted the destructive role Iran has played in funding, training, arming, and directing the so-called Special Groups and generated renewed concern about Iran in the minds of many Iraqi leaders.
Unchecked, the Special Groups pose the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq.
Iran has fueled the violence in a particularly damaging way, through its lethal support to the Special Groups.
Together with the Iraqi Security Forces, we have also focused on the Special Groups. These elements are funded, trained, armed, and directed by Iran’s Qods Force, with help from Lebanese Hezbollah. It was these groups that launched Iranian rockets and mortar rounds at Iraq’s seat of government two weeks ago, causing loss of innocent life and fear in the capital, and requiring Iraqi and Coalition actions in response.
Iraqi and Coalition leaders have repeatedly noted their desire that Iran live up to promises made by President Ahmedinajad and other senior Iranian leaders to stop their support for the Special Groups. However, nefarious activities by the Qods Force have continued, and Iraqi leaders now clearly recognize the threat they pose to Iraq.”

Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker also said in his testimony:

“Iran continues to undermine the efforts of the Iraqi government to establish a stable, secure state through the authority and training of criminal militia elements engaged in violence against Iraqi security forces, coalition forces and Iraqi civilians. The extent of Iran’s malign influence was dramatically demonstrated when militia elements armed and trained by Iran clashed with Iraqi government forces in Basrah and Baghdad. When the President announced the Surge, he pledged to seek out and destroy Iranian-supported lethal networks inside Iraq. We know more about these networks and their Quds Force sponsors than ever before – and we will continue to aggressively uproot and destroy them. “