RICE APPEARS BEFORE SENATE

Condi Rice appeared today before the U.S. Senate

Some quotes:

"The stakes are enormous."

"The situation in Iraq is unacceptable."

The strategy has "very strong political and economic elements."

Important to "have an effective government in Baghdad, but equally important to have strong provincial governments."

Al Anbar is "the epicenter of Al Qaeda activity"

Iraq is "central to our credibility"

"This is a different Middle East." "One the side are reformers"... "on the other side are extremists."

Paraphrasing:

On the side of the extremists are Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas.

Because they are not interested in stabilizing, vs. not stabilizing. Links "destabilizing" in Iraq and Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

She says they have a regional policy. She understands skepticism and pessimissm regarding Iraq.

She's emphasizing that they talked to a lot of advisors, read the ISG Report. Bush then concluded that the best approach is to prop up the current Iraqi government.

She is expressing a lot of confidence in the Iraqi government. Keeps saying "they came to us," and gave to President Bush assurances that "this time they are going to get the job done."

Rice: "We want to work with all Americans as we move forward."