Sen. Bond makes an aggressive defense of the Bush Administration’s strategy for the war in Iraq.

Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, insists the counter-insurgency plan put into place this year is working by aggressively battling the insurgents while training the Iraqi military to take over the country’s defense. Bond says that has allowed the military to bring units home.

Bond tells fellow Senators they need only read the notes found in the pocket of an al Qaeda leader who had recruited fighters from other countries to get a feel for the military progress in Iraq. The notes describe an embattled al Qaeda that is suffering under the increased pressure since the surge was fully implemented.

"We have hurt them and we have hurt them badly," Bond tells colleagues during his floor speech.

Bond concedes al Qaeda remains a threat, but says it is not basing its threat from Iraq. 

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)