After Visit to Iraq, Wicker Finds Signs of Progress

Statement

AFTER VISIT TO IRAQ, WICKER FINDS SIGNS OF PROGRESS

After spending last weekend with soldiers and commanders on the ground in Iraq, I am convinced that steady progress is being made and that a premature pullout of U.S. troops would threaten the stability of the entire region.

I was part of a five-member Congressional delegation to visit Qatar, Iraq, and Jordan during the six day trip. We also stopped at the Landstuhl Medical Center near Ramstein Air Base, Germany, before returning to Washington on Tuesday.

ON THE GROUND IN BAGHDAD

We spent Sunday in Baghdad talking with U.S. military personnel and getting an assessment of the military and political situation. Our group also had in-depth discussions with Allied Commander Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. What we observed was that the military surge of 20,000 U.S. personnel this summer is working to reduce violence and help improve the security situation. Some critics expressed concerns that the surge would escalate the war, but those concerns were unfounded. Security and stability have been established in more territory since February when this new strategy began. While the level of violence is still unacceptable, civilian attacks and sectarian murders are down.

According to Gen. Petraeus, even more success has been achieved in the four weeks since he testified before Congress. Our delegation toured a marketplace in a section of Baghdad that had been prone to violence and terrorist attacks. Prior to the surge, only around 30 shops were operating. On the day of our visit, there were more than 400 shops open and doing brisk business.

PROGRESS IN RECONCILIATION

There is no doubt that long-standing hatred among Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds has made achieving national reconciliation a difficult goal. While the national government has been slow to come together, I am optimistic that positive steps are being taken to move those efforts forward. One prominent Shiite leader said last week that true reconciliation would come through the operations of an efficient and fair government, not through "short-term engineering among Shiites and Sunnis." Leaders from all three ethnic divisions reached agreement in August on several key national issues, but those initiatives have not been enacted by the parliament. My strong message to Mr. al-Maliki was that the American people expect to see legislative accomplishments soon on matters such as oil distribution and reconciliation.

Many Sunni Muslims have turned against the terrorists and are now cooperating with U.S. and Iraqi forces to take back their neighborhoods. The action, which first began in the troubled al-Anbar province, is now taking hold in Baghdad, too. In another significant development, the radical Shiite cleric Muktada al-Sadr and the more moderate leader of the Shiite Supreme Islamic Council announced a pact last week designed to repudiate violence and work toward advancing Iraq's national interests.

PULLOUT COULD DESTABILIZE REGION

Iraq's neighbors are opposed to an immediate withdrawal of U. S. personnel. Our delegation heard from national leaders in Qatar and Jordan that such an action could destabilize the entire Middle East, hand over a victory to Al-Qaeda, allow terrorists to establish a safe-haven there, and open the door for Iran to expand its influence throughout the region.

In our talks with rank-and-file U.S. troops in Qatar and in Iraq, including several Mississippians, we found morale to be very high. These dedicated soldiers and airmen continue to be upbeat about their mission and committed to seeing it through. We also spent time with wounded soldiers in Germany, and I had an opportunity to deliver letters and messages of support written by students at Church Street Elementary School in Tupelo.

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