ARLINGTON, TX: North Texas Congressmen Joe Barton (R-Arlington/Ennis) and Kenny Marchant (R-Coppell) have just returned from a four day fact finding mission to Iraq. During their trip they met with local Iraqi leaders and American officials - including U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General Raymond Odierno, Commander of the Multi-National force in Iraq.
The lawmakers were involved in high level meetings about everything from Iraqi oil and electricity production to the improving security situation on the ground. They also toured an Iraqi power plant and even got a chance to swap stories with troops from Texas over a couple of scoops of ice cream.
Rep. Barton was encouraged by the advances he saw both militarily and economically and said peace is progressing in Iraq.
“The surge worked and the good news is from a military perspective I can honestly say no matter how you define victory that we have won the war. We have routed Al Qaeda and the terrorists. There is still quite a bit of work to be done, but life is returning to normal in Iraq. Iraqi citizens can – by and large – go where they want, when they want and do what they want to do. No matter where you go or who you talk to there is a palpable sense that we have won. The people in the military, the state department and the Iraqi people on the street – where ever you go you don’t sense tension or pessimism. There is optimism and a real desire to get on with building their country,” said Rep. Barton.
Rep. Marchant echoed those comments, emphasizing that Iraq’s energy industry is the key to success.
“Government officials and military officials agree that they need to get the electric grid up so they can provide a reliable source of electricity to the Iraqi people. Another important mission is to continue to increase oil production in Iraq and sell more oil on the world market. We were told by several leaders that those are the two main things standing in the way of a successful peace and a successful democratic government,” said Rep. Marchant.
During their trip to Iraq, the congressmen toured a power plant in South Baghdad. Parts of it have been destroyed by terrorists, but a combined team of Iraqi and American engineers have kept it running. This single plant provides electricity to thousands of people in the Iraqi capitol city. It is an example of a larger effort nationwide to get power to every citizen.
“They are generating more electricity than they ever did under the rule of Saddam Hussein,” said Rep. Barton.
Mr. Barton was also encouraged by the new investments in infrastructure being made by the Iraqi government.
“They have a budget surplus of about $80 billion and they are beginning to use their own money,” said Barton.
And according to the Congressmen the Iraqis want to hire U.S. companies, including some with ties to Texas, to help in the rebuilding process.
“There is a real market in Iraq for U.S. goods from military equipment to commercial construction and Iraqi officials want to do business with our companies,” said Rep. Barton.
Mr. Marchant and Mr. Barton discussed setting up a trade mission to help the two sides come together.
“We need to bring high ranking Iraqi ministers to the U.S. to discuss procurement opportunities, while at the same time assure our companies that they can go over there and make money,” said Rep. Marchant.
Both Congressmen admitted that the most uplifting part of the trip was meeting with troops from Texas at an ice cream social.
“Their morale is high. Of course they miss home – who wouldn’t miss Texas – but they are proud of the work they are doing in Iraq and what U.S. military has accomplished,” said Mr. Barton.
Both Congressman left Iraq with that same sense of hope, but knowing there was still a lot of work to be done, politically, militarily and commercially before the nation is fully ready to run on its own.
“We have freed a country from a totalitarian leader and we now have a chance to replace it with a friendly government – one that will hopefully be a critical ally in this vital area of the world,” said Rep. Barton
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