Pa. Congressman Altmire: Get out of Iraq

The congressman said there’s no military solution for Iraq.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

Upon his return from Iraq, U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire’s belief that U.S. troops need to leave that country is as strong as ever.

Altmire, D-4th, who represents Lawrence County and part of Mercer County in Congress, said Thursday, just a few hours after he landed in Pittsburgh from a four-day trip to Iraq and Kuwait, that there is no military solution to the problems in Iraq.

Altmire, of McCandless, Pa., praised American troops but didn’t have kind words for the Iraqi government.

“The political leadership in Iraq has not only failed to make progress in nearly every measurable way, but in many cases, they have gone backwards,” he said.

Altmire was among four U.S. House members who visited Kuwait and Iraq between Monday and Thursday.

During their time in Iraq, Altmire and the three other congressmen met with Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, and Army Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq, as well as other U.S. military officials and soldiers, and Iraqi officials.

Sept. 15 report

The ambassador and general are preparing a report on the situation in Iraq that will be presented to Congress by Sept. 15.

Altmire said there was an agreement among the participants to not discuss the details of the meetings in Iraq, but the congressman said he has a “high level of confidence” in what the two will report.

Altmire has voted in favor of requiring President Bush to begin withdrawing troops in Iraq with most of them home by April 1, 2008. After his visit, Altmire said he is still convinced that a withdrawal is needed.

“It didn’t change my thoughts,” he said of the visit. “It put it in perspective.”

Altmire strongly criticized the Iraqi government saying its leaders have shown no willingness to run the country.

“Simply put, America can no longer hold the hands of the Iraqi officials and offer them an open-ended commitment while our best and brightest men and women continue to fight and die in Iraq,” he said. “The time has come for the Iraqis to rise up to the challenge and manage their own affairs.”