Untitled Document

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

March 23, 2004

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Travels to Iraq

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) today announced that he will travel to Iraq during Congress' April recess to thank the troops for their service and to see firsthand the progress that has been made in creating Iraqi institutions that will foster law and order and combat terrorism.

"Now is an important time to make the trip to Iraq and assess the progress that is being made on the ground to build a just and lasting peace in Iraq for a safer world," Etheridge said. "My mission is two-fold: I want to thank the men and women in uniform, and I want to learn more about the effort to build an Iraqi law enforcement capability. Creating stability through competent civil institutions, like a capable police force, is critical to securing Iraq and providing hope for the future."

Etheridge will meet with troops from North Carolina and will review the current rebuilding efforts in Iraq. Etheridge, a member of the U.S. House Select Committee on Homeland Security, will also receive briefings on the training of local law enforcement officers, efforts at combating terrorism and the latest intelligence information.

More than 100,000 troops have been deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Troops from North Carolina bases and the N.C. National Guard make up a substantial portion of that fighting force. In January Etheridge traveled to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to observe the training of 4,800 N.C. National Guard soldiers as they prepared for deployment to Iraq.