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Coleman, in Iraq, praises security efforts but says political progress is lagging
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WASHINGTON - Last year's troop surge has provided Iraqis with a "window of hope," but their government needs to move quicker to take control of the country, ideally putting the United States in a secondary military position by the end of the year, said Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.
Coleman said that he saw progress in recent days on his fifth trip to Iraq, where he led a coalition, including fellow Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Johnny Isakson of Georgia, but that he wasn't satisfied with its pace. He echoed comments he made after his last trip to the region in September, saying he was impressed with military gains but not with diplomatic or political advancements.
"There is still concern among Iraqi leadership [Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-] Maliki hasn't done what he has to do to really move reconciliation forward," Coleman said.
Coleman described a "telling moment" when he visited Gazalea, a western Baghdad neighborhood and former insurgency hotbed that Gen. David Petraeus told Coleman had made him question why he decided to take the job. Now, because of the surge, the area is safe enough that Coleman said he saw children playing in the streets.
"I was able to walk the streets and go to the markets," Coleman said. "I look at this as an ex-mayor and say they have a long way to go to rebuild."
A "rebuilding surge" must become the new focus, Coleman said, with Iraqis using oil revenue to help pay for it.
"Our goal should be for the Iraqis to take over," he said. "There needs to be rebuilding. ... The Iraqis have to play a part in that."
NINA PETERSEN-PERLMAN
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