As a Member of Congress, one the most important responsibilities I have had is to closely monitor the status and progress of the situation in Iraq (including reconstruction and transition) and to visit our troops in harm’s way. On a recent trip to Baghdad, I was able to speak with the Commanding General of the Multinational Force-Iraq (MNF-I), Ray Odierno, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. A key architect of the “surge,” General Odierno assumed command of MNF-I on September 16, 2008, when General Davis Petraeus was promoted to Commander, U.S. Central Command. Ambassador Crocker is one of our nation’s most esteemed Foreign Service officers having served in ambassadorships under both Republican and Democrat Presidents in Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, and now, Iraq.

General Odierno and Ambassador Crocker reported that the “surge” has achieved many of its stated objectives. American casualties are down dramatically, the security of the Iraqi people has improved, and the Iraqi Army has shown the ability to hold areas cleared of insurgents by American forces. Political progress, though slow, is the final benchmark that must be achieved before we can begin to fully draw down our forces. After speaking to General Odierno and Ambassador Crocker, I came away optimistic that we are well on our way to achieving this benchmark, which will allow our troops to leave Iraq in victory.

It was important to hear from General Odierno and Ambassador Crocker concerning the progress the American military is making in Iraq, but I must confess that the highlight was meeting with the troops. My colleague, Rep. Joe Barton, and I were able to meet with a number of Texas troops. We talked about their deployments and their morale; through it all, I found each and every one of them to be in high spirits and focused on the mission at hand. Several troops spoke of the noticeable progress that has been made because of the “surge” and their admiration of the leadership of Generals Petraeus and Odierno.

On October 23rd, American forces handed over control of Babil (a province located south of Baghdad) to the Iraqi government. Now, twelve of Iraq’s eighteen provinces are under Iraqi control. In Babil, encompassing part of the infamous “triangle of death,” violence is down more than 80% in the last year. Fallujah, one of Anbar province’s largest cities and a staging ground for some of the bloodiest battles during the Iraq War, has a seen a nearly 80% decline in American military presence in the last eight months. On November 14th, U.S. Marines will hand over control of Fallujah, to the Iraqi government. If we continue on the path we are now on, we will be able to achieve, in the words of Ambassador Crocker, a “secure, stable, democratic Iraq at peace with its neighbors.” The six provinces not fully under Iraqi control are Baghdad, ethnically diverse provinces in the north, and one province on the Iraq-Iran border. 

In the course of several additional briefings, I also met with U.S. Embassy officials, senior U.S. officials handling the transition, and Iraqi Oil Ministry officials. Topics included: improving Iraq’s oil infrastructure; provincial reconstruction; electricity issues; and encouraging American companies to operate in Iraq. One area for deeper consideration is the possibility of American corporations bringing commerce to Iraq; however, security must improve before this step can be taken. 

As we move forward, it is imperative to heed the words of General Petraeus who publicly proclaimed that the progress we’ve made is “fragile” and “reversible” if we do not proceed with caution as we consider strategies to withdraw our troops from Iraq.

If you would like to view photos from the visit: go to http://marchant.house.gov/photogallery.shtm; click on "Military/Veterans"; click on "Iraq Visit."