Just back from his sixth trip to Iraq, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-3rd, said he saw many hopeful signs in the war-torn country and found more positive attitudes toward the United States in the Middle East because of Barack Obama’s inauguration.
“Everywhere we went in the Middle East the enthusiasm for Obama as president is prevalent,” Ruppersberger told The Examiner. “People want peace. They were very excited that we were coming in.”
Ruppersberger, a member of the Intelligence Committee, was joined by newly elected Rep. Frank Kratovil, D-1st, and other members of the House Armed Services Committee, who visited Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Kuwait and NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as well as Iraq.
“It was a grueling trip,” Kratovil said. “We hit six counties in six days, but it was great sort of bouncing from one to the other,” and getting to hear from top leaders of nations often hostile to each other and the United States. Kratovil had never been to any of the countries, and he cautioned, “One trip to Iraq does not an expert make.”
In earlier trips, Ruppersberger noted that “a Westerner could not walk in any street in Iraq outside the Green Zone,” the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.
“What I saw this time is amazing,” Ruppersberger said. “I walked down half a mile on a street – admittedly we had military with us — that no American dude could do six months or a year ago and felt pretty safe. It was very, very positive. I think the Iraqi people finally feel there’s hope after this election that their government could take control.”
The training of the Iraqi police and military has improved, the U.S. forces have been able to make allies of former insurgents, and “the Iraqi people were really into the elections,” he said.
Ruppersberger was particularly impressed with their hourlong meeting with President Bashar Assad, with whom the United States has had very difficult relations.
The congressman said he and the delegation emphasized to Assad that “we’re always going to stand behind Israel 100 percent,” but Ruppersberger told the Syrian leader, “You can make world history. Syria might be in a position to start the dialogue” with Israel and its mortal enemies, like Iran and the Hezbollah terrorist group.
According to Ruppersberger, Assad said, “we’re very excited about dialogue with Obama.”
“This is the beginning of a process that didn’t exist before we went in,” Ruppersberger said.
Kratovil was less optimistic, getting the sense that “the opportunities for long-term peace with Israel were not as positive.”
“We didn’t get the impression that the president of Syria was inclined to negotiation,” Kratovil said.
“The elections went well [in Iraq]. There was really no violence to speak of,” Kratovil said. “The question really is what we’ll happen when we leave.”
The freshman congressman was also concerned about Afghanistan after his visit to Brussels. “There is no consensus among the NATO allies and us as to ultimately what is our goal,” Kratovil said. He said, “We may make similar mistakes that we did in Iraq if we’re not careful.”
