Photo By Maj. Anthony Buchanan | TIKRIT, Iraq (Sept. 10, 2006) -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter (left) shakes hands with Col....... read more read more
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by Spc. Lee Elder
133rd MPAD
KIRKUSH, Iraq (September 10, 2006) – A pair of freshman U.S. Senators visited 555th Engineer Brigade Soldiers Sunday to lift their spirits and get a first-hand view of the situations Coalition forces encounter every day in northern Iraq.
Dr. Tom Coburn, a Republican from Oklahoma, and David Vitter, a fellow Republican from Louisiana, were both elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Both had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, and are strong supporters of U.S. actions here.
"The primary reason is to come and visit troops, particularly those from Louisiana," Vitter said. "We want to tell them, 'thank you' on behalf of everybody back home.
"They are doing a super job here for the country, in fact, for the world, and we are very honored by that sacrifice and commitment."
Coburn added, "We wanted to say, 'thank you,' and that is probably our most important mission here and say how much we appreciate your service, sacrifice and courage as demonstrated by all of you over here."
After the pair was whisked onto Contingency Operating Base Speicher by Black Hawk helicopters, they were taken to the engineers' headquarters. Once there, they received a briefing by Col. William Rapp, the brigade's commander.
Rapp explained the unit's four-pronged mission to the lawmakers. Besides its construction efforts, the brigade's Soldiers are also charged with clearing routes, finding and disposing of ordnance and ammunition caches and partnership efforts with Iraqi Army units.
The senators were interested in the progress shown by the local Iraqi Army units. Both quizzed Rapp on the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces.
"It is mixed," Rapp said. "It depends on the leadership."
Vitter said these briefings are a crucial part of their visit. Lawmakers gain knowledge that they can use in developing policy and appropriating resources for the Coalition efforts here.
"It's also a great opportunity obviously to see a lot of things first hand, get briefings first hand and really understand the situation a lot better so we can provide what we need to provide from Congress," Vitter said.
"We wanted to find out what you needed that you didn't have," Coburn said.
A physician who was first elected to Congress in 1994, Coburn served three terms and retired the House in 2000 as he promised. However, he returned to Washington when he was elected to the Senate two years ago.
Coburn said the senators also spend time visiting with Iraqi officials. His message to them is quite blunt.
"We spent a lot of time working with Iraqi ministries making sure they understand we mean what we say about getting their act together," Coburn said. "We are hopeful that all of your efforts combined with them getting their act together is going to bring us all home real soon."
What Coburn described "probably our most important mission here" was held after the briefings. Both senators were able to meet with Soldiers from their respective home states.
"We have an awful lot to be proud of," Vitter said. "Per capita, there is no state that has sacrificed more to this effort than Louisiana.
"I'm not just talking about numbers, but commitment and quality of Soldier and everything else. It's really very, very impressive. These guys right here are perfect examples of that."
Coburn is a frequent critic of news coverage of U.S. efforts here. He echoed those sentiments as he described what he would tell his constituents about his visit.
"Quit listening to the news because it doesn't have any connection with reality whatsoever with what we've seen," Coburn said. "I was a medical missionary in northern Iraq in '93, and I know a lot of the Iraqi people.
"I know with good leadership by their own people, they are going to come around. You all have given them an opportunity to do that, and it's a requirement on their leaders now to make sure that it is followed through on."
Vitter said that it would take time for the efforts to come to fruition here. He said the patience would ultimately pay off.
"Americans in general aren't the most patient people," Vitter said. "Everybody wants to see results; everybody wants to bring these folks home. I certainly share that.
"We need to have resolve and be patient about it so that all of this work is not for naught."
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2006 09:38 |
| Story ID: | 7708 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 542 |
| Downloads: | 477 |
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