WASHINGTON – If Iraq’s leaders put half the effort U.S. soldiers have into stabilizing their government, the job would be done and the troops would be home, Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-Utica) said Friday.
Congressman Arcuri returned to Washington Thursday from a three-day visit to Iraq with a Congressional delegation led by U.S. representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL).
Arcuri says both Sunni and Shiite leaders have wasted time and lives playing politics when they should have been working together to make Iraq’s government work.
“The brave men and women who are fighting in Iraq and risking their lives are the very best that this country has to offer and incredibly good at what they do. Their courage and determination is inspiration to all of us,” he said Friday in a conference call with reporters. “If the Iraqi government would do half of what our troops have done, they would be on their way home now.”
The recent 30,000 surge in U.S. troops calmed violence and gave the Sunnis and Shiites “breathing space” to negotiate their roles in the new government, Arcuri said, but instead the Iraqi parliament took a summer recess.
“They’ve squandered that time,” he asserted, “while Iraqi and American lives continue to be lost.”
The parliament reconvened Tuesday after the month-long break.
The American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due in Washington to report to Congress next week on progress in Iraq since the introduction of 30,000 more American troops.
Arcuri met with Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus during his visit, adding that he has the “strongest regard” for Petraeus, and has the “utmost confidence in what’s he’s doing.” However, Arcuri says he questions Iraqi leadership following a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Salam Al-Zuwba’I.
“I asked him (Al-Zuwba’I) what I should tell the people back home in New York when they ask ‘why should we say there?’” Arcuri said. “He didn’t answer my question. A colleague later reiterated my question. He still did not answer it. If he doesn’t know why we need to stay, our troops may not know the reason we have to stay.
“To me this is troubling,” he said. “If they expect us to stay there, they need to stand up for themselves. If they don’t, the problem will not get any better.”
The Congressman said he’s awaiting Petraeus’ report and hopes for a “responsible” pull-back of troops in the immediate future. He says there are important issues at home that have been neglected in favor of the war, like the nation’s transportation and building infrastructure.
In all, Arcuri said the trip was a fascinating experience. He toured Fallujah, a hot-spot during the invasion in 2000, as well as bases in Kuwait and a military hospital. He ended his trip eating dinner with troops from New York state.
“They (New York’s troops) want everyone back home to know they are doing a good job – they’ve done everything that’s been asked of them and more,” Arcuri said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.