Senators square off on eve of Iraq report

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Two U.S. senators Sunday offered their views on the military surge in Iraq and how to lower the number of U.S. combat troops there.

Army Gen. David Petraeus, top U.S. military commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, are to deliver their report and testify before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee Monday. The two are expected to assess what's happened and offer trends in Iraq since the United States began its surge of additional troops early this year.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on "Fox News Sunday" he was "pleased" with the results of the surge.

"There's local political reconciliation. The people in Iraq are war-weary," said Graham, who just returned from two weeks on Air Force Reserve duty on Iraq. "It won't be long 'til Baghdad politicians follow through with major reconciliation."

Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., said on the same show that some areas of Iraq are more secure, but, "I think in terms of giving the breathing room to make the political accommodations, (the surge) has not worked to do that."

Saying Petraeus was "greatly respected," Feinstein said lawmakers would listen to him, "(but) there is not a military solution to this problem. There's only a political solution."

Graham said, "We need to listen to this general, listen to this ambassador and understand that we have made progress."