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Visiting Iraq: Click to Listen to a Teletown Hall About My Travels
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Iraq and D.C. – Hello from D.C., where I just got off the plane from a visit to Baghdad and Kirkuk in Iraq last week to get a firsthand look at American operations on the ground.
During my travels, I met with troops from Michigan and the 2nd District, as well as civilians from Michigan working as linguists for the U.S. State Department.
It was an amazing trip. I was so impressed by our servicemen and women, who are serving their country overseas in a fashion that would make us all proud. I was glad to be able to visit with them and pass along encouragement and support from the 2nd District.
To hear more about my time in Iraq, please click here to listen to the teletown hall I hosted from overseas last Friday. I will host another teletown hall about my travels THIS Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. To be sure you're included, please contact my Holland office at (616) 395-0030.
During the trip, I met with U.S. as well as Iraqi officials, including U.S. Ambassador Jim Jeffrey, General Lloyd Austin, General Frank Helmick, Lt. General Michael Ferriter. I also met provincial leaders in Kirkuk, Deputy Prime Minister Hussain al-Shahristanii, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hoshyar Zebari, and government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.
I left Iraq feeling encouraged and cautiously optimistic about our future involvement there. I saw firsthand how daunting the work ahead in Iraq is for Iraqis and the U.S. We must ensure we continue our efforts so as to not leave a vacuum after all the work that has been put forth.
I traveled with colleagues from the House, Rep. Steve Chabot, OH-1, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, and freshman Rep. Karen Bass, CA-3.
To learn even more, please click here to hear me discuss my travels on last week's teletown hall, and check my Facebook page at facebook.com/rephuizenga for photos and video from the trip that I'll post very soon!
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