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After trip, Smith confident in Iraq, Afghanistan progress

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By The Associated Press

Saturday, Apr 14, 2007 - 04:47:16 pm CDT

Rep. Adrian Smith is convinced that progress is being made in Iraq and Afghanistan but still sees an enormous job ahead for both countries and the United States.

The Republican who represents Nebraska’s 3rd House District said Friday just returned from a trip to both countries. What he saw and heard bolstered his belief that he voted correctly against a House funding bill that sets a time table for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, Smith said.

The House wants to end combat operations before September 2008; the Senate voted to set a nonbinding goal of ending combat by March 31, 2008.

Story Photo

President Bush promises to veto any funding bill that contains a time table.

As Smith spoke with troops and their commanders, he said, he learned of their desire for flexibility to do their jobs.

“Too much direction from Congress would really, really complicate matters,” he said.

When Smith was asked whether U.S. troops might still be in Iraq five or 10 years from now, he gave no estimate but noted that major U.S. forces stayed in Japan and Germany decades after the end of World War II. And, he said, U.S. troops are still in South Korea more than 50 years after the Korean War fighting ended, helping deter any North Korean aggression.

One of the Iraqis he talked to hoped his country would someday have the same sort of friendly relationship with the United States that Germany and Japan have.

And, Smith said, the Iraqi said he didn’t want Iraq to have the chilly dealings Vietnam still has with the United States, more than 30 years after the communist forces prevailed.

Smith said he hopes Iraq’s government will soon achieve the relative stability enjoyed by Afghanistan, which requires far fewer U.S. troops.

He also said U.S. leaders in Iraq report the fighting is more than just an internecine conflict between Sunni and Shiite forces, that tribal conflicts are just as bloody.

If U.S. troops were withdrawn before Iraq’s government and military forces were ready, Smith said, the subsequent chaos and violence would force a U.S. return.

He also fears that were U.S. troops to leave early, foreign insurgents in Iraq would move on to Afghanistan to work at destabilizing that nation.

Smith was joined on his trip by four other freshmen members of Congress.

Changes are occurring in Iraq, he said, but there has been far more media and political attention on the problems there than the progress being made.

In a news release, Smith said: “We have a long way to go. There is tough and difficult work ahead, but we are making progress.”


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What a tough guy! wrote on April 14, 2007 5:06 pm:
" I'm sure the troops in Iraq were truly thrilled and inspired to spend a moment in the glowing glory of Adrian Smith, who is still within the age range that would make him eligible to serve in Iraq if he were serious about supporting the war. I bet it made the military personnel's day to take time out from trying to achieve some semblance of order so that they could explain to Adrian how war works. Adrian is on the Ag Committees and the Science & Technology Committees, not any committees relating to the war itself. There is no reason that my tax dollars should have been spent for Adrian's useless field trip. He can parrot Dick Cheney's talking points from home just fine. "

 From Iraq wrote on April 14, 2007 5:11 pm:
" Its too bad that what this man saw and actually had the oportunity to experience first hand comunication with a local won't change the concrete heads of you anti American people back home. Its ok though, we troops understand. We'll get more open arms from the illegals that came into the states that we will from you folks because you want time tables and deadlines wich will get us all killed in the long run. Keep on being CNN supporters. "

 steve wrote on April 14, 2007 7:34 pm:
" Smith is clueless. Did you here his interview on KRVN? When he got off sound-bite he couldn't complete a sentence. "

 steve wrote on April 14, 2007 7:41 pm:
" Smith is clueless. Did anyone here his interview on KRVN? If he got off sound-bite he couldn't complete a sentence. Waste of tax money sending him to Irag, bigger waste of money sending him to D.C. "

 Okie wrote on April 14, 2007 9:20 pm:
" Oh my gosh!! At least Chuck Hagel and Bob Kerrey were/are eloquent speakers. This sounds horrible. "

 Levi wrote on April 15, 2007 12:13 am:
" Hey "From Iraq," disliking the war in Iraq doesn't mean that we want you to die. It's the exact opposite. The war is a waste of human life and only making the middle east more volitle. We appreciate your sacrifice. The Bush administration's misguided agenda is what's getting our troops killed. "

 From Iraq wrote on April 15, 2007 7:04 am:
" Levi if you would come over here and experience things here first hand yourself you would see that non if this is nor has been misguided. If you hear any negativity from troops its because they didn't want to be here to begin with. I know troops that are on their way here for the 3rd time and they are looking forward to it. If there was such a negitivity of such a said war don't you thing there would be a hell of a lot of troops protesting a war??? There is a damn good reason to be here and you American people need to demand that the news media show you whats going on positively not negatively. There is a huge growing number of troops that are loosing respect in all support of the American people and the democrats that want this stopped. Stopping this now will only create one hell of a huge mess. Enough said. "

 3rd District Voter wrote on April 15, 2007 9:28 am:
" I get the feeling that "From Iraq" is not from Iraq, and is actually our local propagandist Brian Bresnahan. After all, why would a soldier who's supposedly patrolling the streets of Iraq be taking up his precious internet time to hang around a newspaper posting site? At any rate, Adrian Smith is a complete waste of space and taxpayer money. He never should have gone over there in the first place because he is not on any committees that deal directly with military or international affairs issues. Every time a politican goes over there, they put soldiers lives at risk. He says that the military needs more "flexability", but the fact is that the soldiers will do their duty with whatever orders they are given. Their focus is their fellow soldiers, not some politicians political stance in DC!! If they are told to withdraw, they will withdraw. As it is, the Army Times published a poll that stated that a majority of soldiers (and this would have mainly been career military polled, those that are more prone to support war stances) felt that Iraq was a mistake and they were disillusioned with President Bush. Another poll of the Iraqi people commissioned by the State Department showed overwhelmingly they want us OUT of Iraq, that attacks against US and other foreign troops are justified, and that almost half felt conditions were WORSE under US control than under Saddam Hussein. We are not nation builders. Iraq is in a civil war because you have 3 factions that want control. Most smart people said going in was a mistake BEFORE they went in for this very reason. Now you have Turkey getting angry because of the stronghold the Kurds have in Northern Iraq, and are quitely threatening attacks on them to keep them at bay (They are long time enemies), you have the Iranians getting involved because they're Shiite and the majority of Iraqi's are also Shiite, and you have the Sunni's, where the other bordering nations are majority Sunni. Our soldiers are stuck in the middle. We cannot control this. The Pentagon just did a study and concluded our military is at it's breaking point almost. We cannot effectively respond to a major crisis at this point in the world. It will be at least 5 years before they are built back up to an effective level. In turn, they say that recruiting numbers are steady. However, to keep those numbers "steady", they've had to do several things, such as drop the monthly recruiting goal numbers, increase the age to 42 that you can enlist, and allow drug addicts, high school dropouts, and convicted criminals enter. What we are recruit is more and more NOT the best and the brightest. Also, at the opposite end, retention is dropping, as more are getting out at their first chance. To reflect all these problems and the level of readiness, we just heard the Pentagon increase the number of months in Iraq, and decrease from 5 years to 1 year the time between deployments. Our military is stretched thin, and to keep them in a bad situation without end is to NOT support the troops. Smith doesn't get it. I hope to God he gets beat in 2008!! "

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on April 15, 2007 11:21 am:
" Why do Nebraskans in the 3rd district continue to elect politicians who embarrass the state? Are they not capable of thinking for themselves? They just vote for the republican time and time again. "

 LSA Anaconda wrote on April 15, 2007 11:49 am:
" I think it’s great that someone has pointed out that Mr. Smith is at the ripe age to be enlisted in the military and a hasn’t but is willing to make decisions on behalf something he doesn’t have a clue about. Nice one. "

 Home for now wrote on April 15, 2007 1:47 pm:
" Did anyone read what Third District Voter wrote? Neither did I. FYI, we are not made to work 24 hours "Patrolling the Streets" (your words). There is time to read homeland news and listen to what you wonderful people have to say. Your patrolling the streets comment only portrayed your limited narrow view of this war. There are thousands of duties in Iraq that do not include "patrolling the streets". Levi, You made his point for him, get your head out of the CNN cloud and take a look at what is going on around you. All you get is the Liberal limited view of the war and it's successes or failures. Why do you think the troops support this war? We get the full "unedited" classified view of the war that you armchair quarterbacks don't get to see. Smith may not be a great speaker but he is correct in saying we are making a difference. "

 Buddy wrote on April 15, 2007 4:57 pm:
" Actually Adrian went over to make sure Iraqis can ride their motorcycles without having to wear helmets. Just asking for "a little slice of freedom." "

 Sick and Tired wrote on April 15, 2007 10:21 pm:
" Hey 3rd district voter. Just who do you think you are acusing the people currently enlisting of not being "the best and the brightest". Are you one of "the best and the brightest" who elected a football coach to represent your district? I'll bet if you're honest with these people you were one of the overwhelming majority who did vote for the coach. Well just so you know I am a 36 year old, with a great careeer and a family, who just enlisted in the National Guard. Would you like to know why? It's because I felt it as my duty as an American to get back in the military and do my part. An organization where duty, honor, and country still mean something. I wish more democrats knew the meaning of those words. "

 Jody P wrote on April 15, 2007 10:46 pm:
" I would just like to say, George Bush is doing a great job and we are winning this war in Iraq people. I may be a liberal but I do believe in my country and we are doing the right thing in this war. "

 whatever wrote on April 16, 2007 4:51 am:
" The greater enemies of America are right here in our own backyard, serving in the corporate boardrooms and political arena's in every state of this great country. Does anyone remember the "good old days" when there were political differences in this country, but you could count of the majority of business leaders and politicians to be looking out for the best interests of this country? I don't think the motivations are quite the same anymore. "

 Jarhead wrote on April 16, 2007 12:49 pm:
" I used to be a Bush supporter but I am now fed up with his lies and compleet incompetense. I no longer can support him or the war in Iraq. "

 True GOP American wrote on April 16, 2007 12:53 pm:
" I'm a true republican voter. I think we should commend our Commander in Chief and Mr. Smith for paving the way for a democrat to be elected to office in 2008. I also think we should institute the draft, except limiting it to Young Republican members in college. "

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