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For Immediate Release
February 9, 2006 |
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Shays Returns from 11th
Oversight Trip to Iraq, Israel
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman
Christopher Shays (R-CT), Chairman of the Subcommittee on
National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations,
briefed Connecticut reporters on his recent oversight trip
to Iraq. This trip, which was his 11th, focused on assessment
of the health and welfare of U.S. military forces, political
developments, reconstruction efforts, and the training and
equipping of Iraqi security forces.
During the trip, Shays also delivered 175 pounds of items
collected by the Thurgood Marshall Middle School for Social
Justice in Bridgeport to soldiers stationed in Iraq with the
Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
“As Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security,
I go to Iraq every three months or so to chart the progress
or decline of our operations. After we were wrong on weapons
of mass destruction, I decided I would conduct my oversight
firsthand and not rely on the Administration or press for
information,” Shays explained. “This trip underscored
my feeling that we are making progress, but the Iraqis will
need continued support to build a stable government, rebuild
their infrastructure and develop a strong military and border
patrol. At my recent community meetings, I heard many Fourth
District residents expressing the sentiment that, whether
they agreed with the war or not, we are there now, and want
to do the job right before we bring our troops home.”
Itinerary in Iraq and Israel
Shays was in Baghdad February 4th, where he met with: the
Sunni representatives to talk about political situation in
Iraq; the Iraq National Security Advisor; Representatives
of the Ministry of Defense and Minister of Interior to discuss
training of Iraqi military and police; U.S. Ambassador to
Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Commander of the Multi-National
Security Transition Command-Iraq, Lieutenant General Martin
Dempsey; and non-governmental organizations (NGO), including
the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican
Institute and the International Foundation for Election Systems.
The following day, he traveled outside the city of Baghdad
to Tal Afar, near the Syrian border, where he met with: American
soldiers at Forward Operating Base Nimer about the health,
welfare and morale of troops; an Iraqi Army Division, Iraqi
Police Unit and an Iraqi Border Patrol Unit; a U.S. military
transition team working in the field with an Iraqi company;
and a U.S. police transition team working in the field with
Iraqi police.
Shays finished the trip with a visit to Israel, where he
met with U.S. Consul General Jacob Walles and Dr. Saeb Erekat
Palestinian Parliamentarian and Chief Palestinian negotiator
to discuss the Palestinian Parliamentary elections. He also
met with Shalom Turgeman, Senior Diplomatic and Political
Advisor to the Prime Minister; General Giora Eiland (ret.),
Israeli National Security Advisor; and MK Shimon Peres former
Prime Minister of Israel.
Observations
Through his on-the-ground oversight, Shays brings home observations
and recommendations from this trip, including:
- Violence and significant challenges create the temptation
among the American public and government leaders to withdraw
prematurely from Iraq. We can’t allow this to happen.
The U.S. must continue to assist Iraq in achieving political
stability, economic growth and a secure environment for
its government to develop.
- Regarding political stability, it is essential we give
Ambassador Khalilzad more time to work with the Iraqis to
build a coalition government of Sunni, Shia and Kurds. In
order to successfully lead the country into a stable and
prosperous future, this government must transcend religious
lines and unify the nation, not divide it.
- Regarding economic growth and reconstruction, continued
funding is necessary to complete projects, especially those
that improve electricity, water, sanitation and oil infrastructure.
Small projects led by Iraqis, with the assistance of NGOs,
should be given special preference.
- Regarding security, we must be open with the American
people concerning our goals and objectives and what is left
to be done. The American public need to understand that
while there are over 225,000 Iraqi security forces (military,
police and border patrol) who are becoming well-trained,
equipped and experienced in battle, these forces lack qualified
non-commissioned officers and support forces such as medics
and logisticians. It will take time to develop these leaders
and support capabilities.
As he does after each oversight trip, Shays will share this
information with the White House, and the Departments of Defense
and State.
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