He says the U.S. should give the second phase of the military operation in Iraq - the troop surge - a chance to work. The key to winning in Iraq is to get all 129 Iraqi military battalions operational so they can eventually move into the combat field. When that is done, they can begin replacing American heavy combat troops and those U.S. troops can rotate out.

Hunter’s campaign Web site: Video explaining why the 129 battalians should be trained to fill in for American military units.

On the Issues: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
“The key to winning in Iraq is standing up the Iraqi military. There are 129 battalions in the Iraqi army. We need to make sure that every one of those battalions moves into an operational setting, gets a 3- or 4-month military operation in a contentious zone. At that point, they can move into the combat field. They can start displacing American units. And America’s heavy combat units can rotate out. That’s the right way to leave Iraq.”

YouTube video: Hunter speaks in favor of the troop surge in Iraq on July 14, 2007.

— Las Vegas Sun new media managing editor Dave Toplikar compiled this report.