WASHINGTON — Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, was among the senators questioning Gen. David Petraeus today on Capitol Hill. Here is an edited version of a transcript of Akaka's questions. The transcript was provided by Akaka's office.

AKAKA: General, the Army has been operating with a 15-12 deployment-to-home station ratio for some time now and has indicated its desire to immediately shift to a 1-1 ratio and, if possible, to a 1-2 ratio.

Part of the effort to achieve these numbers has been the increase in Army end strength. But these forces will not be available for deployment for some time.

In the near to medium term, especially if a decision is made to freeze further troop withdrawals, the strain on equipment, on our forces and on their families, as well, will continue.

My question to you, General: Is it your understanding that most of the soldiers who return for subsequent deployments to Iraq are getting about six months quality time with their families over a three-and-a-half-year period?

PETRAEUS: My expectation would have been that it would be more than that, senator. There's no question but that there are individuals who are in their third tour in Iraq since it began, but they happen to be individuals that either stayed in a unit that did just cycle back through, did not go off to another assignment in the Army somewhere, didn't go off to a school or what have you.

Again, the Army would be best — the one best to answer what the average dwell time is across the force.

There's no question that certain individuals in certain units, if they have stayed in those units over time, have -- may now be on their third tour in Iraq.

And there's no question as well that a 15-month tour is very, very difficult on a soldier and on a family. And, as I mentioned, the strain on the force is something that I very much took into account when I recommended the continuation of the drawdown of the surge and the way ahead as well.

I might note that there is something very special to soldiers about doing what they are doing, however. The 3rd Infantry Division, which is in Iraq right now, on its third tour —you'll recall that it spearheaded the advance to Baghdad in the very beginning in the liberation of Iraq and is now back for its third tour — that division just met its re-enlistment goal for the entire year at about the halfway mark in this fiscal year.

So, again, despite how much we are asking of our young men and women in uniform, they do recognize both the importance of what they're doing and, I guess, this very intangible of being a part of the brotherhood of the close fight, if you will, which is truly unique and special. And they have continued to raise their right hand to volunteer.

We are very concerned about one subset of the population, and that is the young captains of whom we've asked a great deal as well. And that is one that the Army is looking very hard at.

But, again, I am — I'm personally keenly aware of this. I have actually — with respect, I've been deployed now for four and half years since 2001, not to mention training and other activities.

And there's no question about the toll that it takes and the challenges that it presents not just to the soldiers but to their families.

AKAKA: General, given your perception of the security conditions in Iraq, how long before you feel we will be able to meet the Army's desired dwell ratio?

PETRAEUS: Sir, again, I — that has to be a question for the Army. I don't know their force generation plans, what their projections are for the bringing on of additional brigade combat teams.

I know that their initial goal is to try to get back to a 12-month deployment. I'd certainly support that.

Again, they're the ones that are the generators of the force, though, not me.

AKAKA: General, as chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, I am especially concerned that testimony from combatant commanders outside of the U.S. Central Command indicate that operations in Iraq are affecting the readiness of their forces to be able to both train for and meet potential crises in their respective areas of operation.

Recent deterioration in relations between North and South Korea highlight the increased risks borne by the United States should that situation continue to worsen to the point where military involvement is required.

Additionally, the Commission of the National Guard and Reserves testified that due to the high operations tempo of our reserve forces, there is an, quote, appalling gap, unquote, in readiness for homeland defense.

Clearly, there is widespread agreement in the Defense Department that this level of U.S. troop commitment is unsustainable.

In your view, General, at what point must the military, in effect, hand over the majority of security responsibilities to the Iraqis so that the burden can be more equitable shared between our two countries so that we can begin the reset of our forces that is so long overdue?

PETRAEUS: Well, Senator, as I mentioned in my opening statement, there are already many multiples of Iraqi security forces serving in the Iraqi police, border police, army, small air force, navy and so forth. And, in fact, it is Iraqi security forces who are the cops on the beat, who are performing a vast number of tasks.

To be sure, our forces still have the unique capabilities in certain areas when going against Al Qaida and other extremists elements. And, obviously, we have the enablers, if you will – air support and some logistical capabilities and others -- that the Iraqis do not yet have but are working on.

In fact, one item during Basra was that their C-130 fleet ferried an awful lot of the supplies and casualties to and from Baghdad and Basra. So, again, they are gradually, slowly expanding.

By the way, they want to buy U.S. C-130s and have asked to be able to buy the C-130J more quickly than I think the original response has been that they would be available.

So they are already shouldering an enormous burden. It is being handed to them more all the time. But, clearly, as we have seen, they need assistance in a number of different areas, and that's what we are providing.