Ken Calvert: “just last week we witnessed American, coalition and Iraqi forces taking the fight to the enemy by eliminating the…”

“just last week we witnessed American, coalition and Iraqi forces taking the fight to the enemy by eliminating the terrorist leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. During the very same week the Iraqi people looked as their first democratically elected Prime Minister finalized his cabinet by selecting a new Minister of Defense, a new Minister of Interior, a new member of the state for national security. The two events are clear evidence that Iraqi forces are making progress on two major fronts in the ongoing war. On one front the coalition and Iraqi forces remain in the hunt for insurgents and other groups that threaten a free and democratic Iraq. On the other front the Iraqi government continues to show encouraging signs into developing a much needed stabilizing body the country is longing for. During my three trips to Iraq I have observed our military engaging the enemy, protecting the innocent citizens, training the Iraqi forces to make and control and support the new elected government. Despite the positive developments on the ground, we continue to hear naysayers around the world questioning the importance of the outcome in Iraq. On the other hand, al Qaeda leadership and its terrorist network fully understand the consequences of war, calling Iraq the place for the greatest battle of the modern era. I have a copy of a document captured from the safe House where al Zarqawi met his end.…”