Dem representative from region checks out Iraq on U.S. House tour

‘Baghdad’s a little scary,’ the congressman said.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER

While two of the top U.S. officials in Iraq are testifying in Washington, D.C., in front of members of Congress about the war, U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson is in the Middle Eastern country getting a firsthand look at conditions there.

Wilson, of St. Clairsville, is the only Democrat among seven House members — including House Minority Leader John Boehner of Hamilton, R-8th — on the Iraq trip.

The contingent landed Wednesday in Kuwait after 13 hours in the air. It was then another 11⁄2 hours in the back of a C-130 to Baghdad.

“Baghad’s a little scary,” said Wilson, D-6th, during a 20-minute telephone interview Wednesday from that city with The Vindicator. “I’m wearing a flak jacket and a helmet. When we were in the air, there were two helicopters with us and several other helicopters passed us by.”

Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, are testifying before Congress this week about the war.

“We can always read what they said,” said Wilson, whose district includes Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning. “We’re trying to find out what’s really going on.”

Seeing what’s happening in Iraq firsthand is more important than hearing testimony, he said.

During his first day in Iraq, Wilson spoke with Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq; Lt. Gen. W.R. Rollo, the top United Kingdom commander in Iraq; and Patricia Butenis, the deputy chief below Crocker in Iraq.

What Britain’s commander said

Rollo, in particular, was very forthcoming, Wilson said.

“He said that some things were working and some weren’t,” Wilson said. “He was very candid.”

Also, Wilson said, Rollo told him the United Kingdom has reduced its troop number from 45,000 down to 5,000.

Wilson also spent time talking with U.S. troops in Iraq.

“These men and woman are just wonderful,” he said. “I’m very proud of them.”

Wilson voted in favor of requiring President Bush to begin withdrawing troops in Iraq with most of them home by April 1, 2008. Another vote on funding the war in Congress is approaching.

“I needed to see for myself what’s happening here,” he said

Wilson is doubtful anything he sees or anyone he speaks to during his trip to Iraq will change his mind.

“The Iraqi government hasn’t gelled,” Wilson said. “It hasn’t come together and doesn’t seem to be leaning that way.”

Wilson will gather information during his visit to Iraq — his first congressional trip since taking office in January — to share with the Democratic caucus in the U.S. House.

“There’s a lot of conflicting information,” he said. “There is big mistrust among Iraqi leaders.”

skolnick@vindy.com