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Press Release After visit to Iraq, lawmaker urges withdrawal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
© The San Francisco Chronicle
Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Washington -- North Bay Rep. Mike Thompson, just back from a three-day trip to Iraq, said Tuesday he came away impressed by the performance of U.S. forces but more convinced than ever they should be withdrawn as quickly as possible.
The St. Helena Democrat, a Purple Heart Vietnam War veteran who in October 2002 voted against the resolution authorizing President Bush to use force to oust Saddam Hussein, visited Baghdad, Tikrit and Fallujah over the weekend with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine (San Diego County), and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona (Riverside County).
The small delegation focused on efforts to improve armor protection on U.S. Army humvees that are the targets of the insurgents' increasingly sophisticated roadside explosive devices.
Visiting with the 101st Airborne Division, Thompson watched as soldiers installed improvised "up armor'' packages designed to increase protection. "They've risen to the challenge,'' he said of the soldiers on the ground.
The three congressmen also met with Iraqi army officers and their U.S. Marine trainers to try to determine if progress is being made in preparing Iraqis to take over from American forces. Thompson found a mixed message.
"We heard conflicting stories. Some said the Iraqis are almost ready, but others said they have holes. They're better today than they were yesterday. But we need to get to the point where we can turn over more responsibility,'' said Thompson.
Thompson said he remains convinced that the continuing U.S. presence in Iraq encourages the insurgents and serves as a crutch for Iraqi forces. "Everybody told us the longer we do the job for them the longer they'll let us do it for them,'' he said.
Thompson said he backs the general idea proposed by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who wants to withdraw all Americans from Iraq in an orderly fashion over roughly a six-month period. But Thompson wants to wait until the new Iraqi government is in place, which could take a few more months of negotiation.
It was Thompson's first trip to Iraq since he made a controversial visit to the country in October 2002 as Bush was heading for a showdown with Hussein. Thompson said he went to Baghdad then to tell the Iraqis that they should allow U.N. weapons inspectors to freely do their job as a way of avoiding war.
ONLINE VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE:
http://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/index.asp?ID=71
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