WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) was in Iraq today, leading a six-member congressional delegation to the country. The trip comes just a week after provincial elections were held successfully and without significant violence. Boehner issued the following statement on the delegation visit:
“American troops have made remarkable progress in Iraq under the leadership of General Petraeus and General Odierno and our delegation was eager to witness this progress firsthand, particularly after the recent provincial elections. As more of our troops return home and the Iraqi government assumes more control of its country, the progress is undeniable and I commend the resolve, commitment and sacrifice shown by our military forces each and every day.
“Even with our success, there is much more work to be done. As General Odierno and Ambassador Crocker reminded us, we have made significant progress but the gains created by the surge and the political reconciliation process are fragile and reversible. As stability in the region increases, it is imperative that officials in Washington listen to our commanders on the ground on how best to complete our mission while also ensuring the safety and success of our military forces. Our troops in Iraq are returning home after victory rather than defeat, and they deserve to have every tool they need to successfully finish the job. As many of our troops are deployed to Afghanistan, it must not come at the cost of the hard-fought success and stability that has been gained in Iraq.”
Photo courtesy of Rep. Boehner's office.
