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Nunes Arrives in Iraq

Press Release

By: Jim Costa
By: Jim Costa
Date: Sept. 12, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Military Personnel Foreign Affairs


Nunes Arrives in Iraq

Congressional delegation to Iraq follows the release of the Petraeus-Crocker report on Monday

Rep. Devin Nunes in Fallujah Iraq, April 2007.

Washington D.C. - Rep. Devin Nunes today announced his arrival in Iraq as part of a Congressional Delegation Chaired by Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH).

"The Petraeus / Crocker report suggests the troop surge has been a success. However, we have a lot of challenges remaining. I am particularly concerned about political progress and reconciliation among ethnic minorities.

Ambassador Crocker answered tough questions on this topic during his testimony this week and admitted frustration with the Iraqis on a host of political benchmarks. This trip will give me an opportunity to follow up on discussions I had with Iraqi officials in April and to re-iterate the urgency of the work ahead of them," said Rep. Nunes.

The delegation arrived in Baghdad Wednesday morning and is expected to meet with Iraqi government officials, coalition military leaders and soldiers from the San Joaquin Valley. Additional legs of the trip remain subject to secrecy due to security concerns. However, the delegation will be making a number of visits throughout the region.

"I have a deep respect for the hard work of our soldiers in Iraq today. They deserve to have a fair chance to get the job done. Some in Congress want to micro-manage this conflict. These Generals of retreat and defeat are trying to muster support for Congress to issue redeployment orders which is not the proper Constitutional role of the legislative branch. We do not dictate the terms of war. We have a responsibility for oversight and funding, not strategic or tactical military deployment decisions," said Rep. Nunes.

Note: CODEL Boehner departed Washington D.C. 's Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday afternoon. Trip participants include John Boehner (R-OH), Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Charles Wilson (D-OH), Pat Tiberi (R-OH), Tom Latham (R-IA), Peter King (R-NY) and Devin Nunes (R-CA).


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