Rep. Ryan talks with U.S. officials in Baghdad, Iraq

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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles

STAFF REPORT

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17th, was among a contingent of six U.S. House members to make a recent quick trip to Iraq to speak to top American officials in the country about the war there.

Ryan, of Niles, and the other House members — including Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin and John Murtha of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Appropriations’ Defense Subcommittee — flew late Thursday from Washington, D.C., landing in Kuwait on Friday.

Ryan, an Appropriations Committee member, and the others flew Saturday to Baghdad.

While there, the House group spoke with Ryan C. Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, and Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of the multinational force in Iraq. They also toured the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

They returned Monday to the United States.

Ryan also visited Iraq in November 2005. This recent trip was his first time back to the country.

Ryan said Tuesday there should be a slow withdrawal of troops from Iraq that should start shortly with the goal of having most of them out of the country in the next year to year-and-a-half.

He added that the United States will probably have some military presence in Iraq for years to come.