Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/30/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS-IRAQ (L-only)

NUMBER=2-317169(CQ)

BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// Re-running w/correct in headline and spelling in 10th graph from Text ///

HEADLINE: U.S. soldiers in Iraq hold their morale high

INTRO: Three Members of Congress who have just returned from Iraq say U.S. soldiers they met demonstrated a high level of morale despite continuing insurgent attacks and difficult conditions. But the three lawmakers say weight of the military burden in Iraq has now begun to shift to Iraqis. V-O-A's Dan Robinson has a report from Capitol Hill:

TEXT: The delegation comprised one Democrat and two Republicans, among them Congressman Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee:

/// HUNTER ACT ///

I think it is very clear that our service people in Iraq are standing firm, and I think there is a message there for the American people. We should stand firm, we should take a lesson from them and stand firm as we make this handoff, as we make this transfer, and we stand up (help establish) this new Iraqi government.

/// END ACT ///

Congressman Hunter and his two fellow lawmakers, Democrat Silvestre Reyes, and Republican Ken Calvert, all describe the situation in Iraq as very dangerous.

Congressman Reyes says U.S. troops are functioning in what he calls the worst possible environment imaginable with high summer temperatures, and constant security threats posed by insurgents:

/// REYES ACT ///

It's a tough environment for our men and women in uniform, but all of us came away as we always do from those visits, very proud to be Americans. They know what they're doing is important, they're focused on their mission there.

/// END ACT ///

In congressional testimony, Bush administration officials made clear U.S. forces will remain at levels sufficient to safeguard the interim Iraqi government until Iraqi security forces are trained and capable of doing that job themselves.

However, after their latest trip to Iraq which coincided with the early transfer of sovereignty, Congressman Hunter and his House colleagues say the process of shifting responsibility to Iraqis has clearly begun.

(Here is) Republican Congressman (Ken) Calvert:

/// CALVERT ACT ///

We have a period of time where we need to stand up Iraqi security, because that is the exit strategy. Once the Iraqi security services can secure that country, we will be able to leave, and we would like to get that date as soon as possible, just as the Iraqi people, but once they can provide for their own security then that is the magic day.

/// END ACT ///

But there has been vigorous debate on Capitol Hill about just how far off that magic day might be. Some Democrats want the Bush administration to begin working on a specific timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops.

Congressman Hunter told reporters Wednesday, in his words, the speed with which the U.S. exits (Iraq) depends on the ability of Iraqi forces to be trained and be able to accept the burden of carrying the weight themselves. He adds that coming months will be a long difficult road.

/// OPT /// He supported a Pentagon decision this week to mobilize about six-thousand additional reservists for possible duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Hunter was instrumental in adding language to House defense legislation that would increase the size of the U.S. army by 30-thousand in the next three years, the marines by nine-thousand. A Senate version calls for an increase of 20-thousand. /// END OPT ///

The lawmakers also met with wounded American troops on a brief visit to a U.S. military hospital in Germany, where they said even those recovering from injuries expressed a commitment to the mission in Iraq. (signed)

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