Petraeus Grilling Moves to House

Gen. David Petraeus' visit to Capitol Hill continues today, with House members getting their chance to grill the top US commander in Iraq and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Democrats on the Armed Service Committee were vocal in their frustration about the war’s progress, even as Petraeus and Crocker were unyielding about a potential withdrawal timetable, the New York Times reports.

Committee chair Ike Skelton asserted, “The effort in Iraq is putting at risk our ability to decisively defeat those most likely to attack us,” even as Republican heavy Duncan Hunter expressed satisfaction: “I think they’ve made enormous advances since the last hearing.” But Skelton wants more progress, saying Iraqis won’t move toward autonomy until “we take the training wheels off.” (More David Petraeus stories.)