John Thune: “I recently had the good fortune to travel to Iraq with my colleagues Senator Inhofe and Senator Isakson. With my own…”

“I recently had the good fortune to travel to Iraq with my colleagues Senator Inhofe and Senator Isakson. With my own eyes, I saw the political genesis of a nation moving from tyranny to liberty. This process was made possible by the skill and determination of our troops, the strides being made by the Iraqi security forces, and the growing determination of the Iraqi people to engage in the democratic process. I cannot say enough about the sacrifice and dedication of our troops. Their professionalism and devotion to duty are truly inspiring. And I am convinced now more than ever the United States has the finest military in the world. To those who know it best, our military's might is not defined only by its sheer firepower but by the individual soldiers who all play their part in making a multifaceted operation like this possible. Of course, our service members perform their military responsibilities with pride, with diligence, and with professionalism. But many of them also work hand to hand with the Iraqis every day trying to bridge the gaps in language, culture, and community, to forge a common bond cemented by freedom. In doing so, our men and women in uniform represent all that is good about our country. My fellow Senators and I also visited wounded American soldiers in a military hospital in Germany on our way back from Iraq.”