Codel to the Central Fronts

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last week, I participated in a congressional delegation to visit troops and fact-find in Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. Immediately upon arrival, we were given an optimistic assessment of the region by Ambassador Deborah Jones in Kuwait.

America's team in Baghdad, ably led by General Lloyd Austin and Ambassador James Jeffrey, confirmed the transition to an Iraqi lead is working with the professionalism of the Iraqi Army and police. A highlight for me was to meet with the 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard Wholey of the South Carolina Army National Guard to thank them and their families for their service.

In Bahrain, we met top officials who assured us the reformist Crown Prince is leading negotiations to reduce conflict in this dynamic Persian Gulf ally where we visited the U.S.S. Lake Champlain's capable sailors.

In Afghanistan, we saw firsthand in Kandahar the success of President Obama's surge where a surge of 30,000 U.S. troops last year motivated a surge of an additional 70,000 Afghans to fight terrorism. The Kabul team of General David Petraeus and Ambassador Karl Eikenberry are successfully denying terrorists a safe haven to attack American families.

Godspeed to Danielle Simonetti Mauer, a Washington and Lee graduate, as she departs from House service for a new career.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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