The August recess is a time when many members of Congress go on fact-finding missions to luxurious locales. This year some Members are choosing to spend their time in Iraq, to see for themselves how things are going there, and to prepare for the report from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. According to the Hill, some Members are preparing by promising not to take too seriously whatever the leaders on the ground have to say:
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports that Petraeus may be confident enough in the improved security in some areas to recommend a drawdown of U.S. troops in those areas:
A dramatic step like this might be necessary to ensure a fresh look at the surge. But given the polarization in Washington, even that not be enough. With these stories in mind, I spoke today to Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA), who is recently returned from Iraq. I asked for his impressions on what he saw, and his thoughts on how Congress should judge General Petraeus’ report. He told me that a major problem in Washington has been the inability of Republicans and Democrats to come together on criteria for measuring progress in Iraq. He cited it as one reason that Washington is “almost irreconcilably divided” on the war, and one reason that “there’s probably nothing David Petraeus can say” to change the minds of Democratic leaders about the war. He said that from his day in Iraq (on a trip with Representative Schakowsky and four other members), he got an update from the military on some of the progress that has been made: 353,000 Iraqi troops trained, dramatic increases in tips from Sunnis and Shia, and the continued discovery of many weapons caches. He also said (as others have) that speaking to General Petraeus, he recognized him as “a straight shooter,” who wants to return home–and have our servicemen and women return home–as much as anyone. But he is focused on making sure that if and when the U.S. withdraws, it doesn’t mean losing the ground that has recently been gained. Kingston also spoke of the importance of distinguishing between Baghdad and the provinces when considering progress on reconciliation. He said that Deputy Prime Minister Salih told the Congressional delegation that he considered it a great step forward just to get a Shia and a Sunni together in the same room; to accomplish the benchmarks that Washington is seeking would be “like asking the U.S. to pass civil rights legislation in 1865.” But just as Republicans and Democrats work together in America even though Washington is deadlocked, so Sunnis and Shia are working together outside Baghdad. We need to look at the progress throughout the country he said, not just in Baghdad.
