U.S. Sen.: Kurdistan-Iraq is like a boom town in terms of development and construction 1.6.2006 

The delegation then traveled to Baghdad where Senator Allen was able to assess the situation on the ground for the first time since his visit in 2005.

“Here in Baghdad it’s a tougher situation. I am, however, optimistic. Since my last visit, I am seeing good progress. Progress is being made on the political front. Progress is being made on the security front. The Iraqis are standing up their military forces and more and more Iraqis are taking the lead in a variety of ways. I’d like to see more progress with the police force.

They are behind and need to be improved. But this is a crucial time and I believe that by the end of this year, we are going to see far more of the security—probably three-quarters more—being led by Iraqis. That will mean ultimately, the return home of more of our brave Americans,” said Senator Allen.

On his way to Iraq, Senator Allen stopped in Rome for private talks with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. The Prime Minister was sworn-in on May 18th and Senator Allen was one of the first in Congress to meet with him. Among other issues, the two discussed the importance of international pressure on Iran to deter it from further developing its nuclear program.

“We talked about finding ways to getting an intermediary for talks with Iran and the vital importance of the European Union and other allies standing together on this issue. T

he announcement today by Secretary Rice is a good approach and I think we should be engaged but again, the Iranian regime is going to have to stop the movement towards the possible production of nuclear weapons,” said Senator Allen.

On Thursday, Senator Allen will be visiting with Virginia troops stationed in Iraq. “It’s always an invigorating experience spending time with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who risk and sacrifice so much to keep us safe and defend our freedoms, said Senator Allen. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow when I can sit with these patriots in Iraq who are truly some of the finest that our nation has to offer and I am so proud of the way they represent Virginia and America.”

U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt  
Speaking by phone from one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces in Baghdad Wednesday, U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt said a functioning Iraqi government and "an economy that works," are the keys to bringing American troops home from Iraq.
But he warned against abandoning the fledgling democracy before stability is brought to the region.

Blunt, R-Springfield, is in Iraq this week, checking on the country's newly formed democratic government and visiting with American troops from Missouri and Kansas.

His visit comes during a cycle of bad news from Iraq, as the Pentagon investigates the Marine Corps' involvement in 24 civilian killings in Haditha, and the Iraqi prime minister declares a state of emergency in the city of Basra.

"What needs to happen here is the Iraqis need to take responsibility for their own future," Blunt said.

"Once they've done that, there's no reason for us to be here. And establishing the first permanent elected government is a huge step in the right direction."

Pulling out now, Blunt said, would plunge the country into chaos.

"While (American) enthusiasm and support for the policy in Iraq is clearly waning, people understand we have made a commitment here, and the most dangerous thing would be just to walk away from it," he said.

Blunt is traveling with a congressional delegation including fellow Missouri Republican Rep. Sam Graves; Sen. George Allen, R-Va.; House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C.; and Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J.

Earlier in the week, the legislators stopped in Turkey to discuss issues related to the northern Iraqi border.

And Tuesday, the delegation became the first to visit with government leaders of the Iraqi city of Arbil, the capital of northern Iraq's Kurdistan region.

The Kurds are "much more stable and aggressively pro-American, and they have a dozen-year head start on the rest of the country," Blunt said. "The no-fly zone gave them a level of autonomy that really, really allowed them to get a head start on self government."

Wednesday, the delegation met with its newly named Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad.

Though Iraq held elections last year, it's taken months to seat the country's first permanent government. Blunt said the delay was due to bickering among factions for top seats.

"I was disappointed that it took so long," he said. "Nobody was willing to give in."

The government has now been in place two weeks — long enough Blunt said, to begin moving past political procedures and get down to the business of rebuilding Iraq.

"Now that we've got a permanent government, they've got to move from a collectivist economy to a privatized and competitive economy, a global economy," said Blunt.

"All those thing the Poles had to learn and the Baltic countries had to learn, this county now has to learn."

Blunt planned to meet with troops from Missouri and Kansas in Baghdad today before the delegation travels to Kuwait. It will then go on to to Pakistan and Afghanistan before returning to the states later this week.

Officials with Blunt's office said the trip was considered official business, funded by taxpayers through the Department of Defense.

allen.senate.gov

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