The stated goal of the U.S. troop "surge" in Iraq was to create breathing room for political reconciliation in Baghdad. That has not happened.

But reporting to Congress this week, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are pushing for patience — a pullback, next year, of the surge, but an open-ended U.S. military commitment in Iraq.

Yesterday, they testified before the House. Today, they cross Capitol Hill.

This hour, On Point: Petraeus and Crocker before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.Guests:

Barry Posen, professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Techonology.

Stephen Biddle, senior fellow for defense policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.