CAMP TAJI, Iraq - U.S. representatives and delegate representatives visited the Saab Al Bour area, northwest of Baghdad Feb. 15 to meet with Soldiers of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania National Guard experience the changes that have come to the town.
Representatives of the delegation included Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine; Rep. Bobby Bright, D-Ala.; Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.; Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R- Fla.; Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, R-Calif.; and Rep. Stephen Cohen, D-Tenn.
"The thing that has impressed me the most is the quality of the men and women serving in uniform," said Diaz-Balart. "They are the best and the brightest in our Nation and I am impressed by their effort, patriotism and commitment."
The representatives received a briefing about the Saab al Bour area that included the progress made in bringing normalcy to the Iraqi people. Soldiers highlighted the significant improvements in electricity; Iraqi families returning to the city and increased security by the Iraqi Security Forces.
The delegation took a tour of a town market; meeting and seeing firsthand how Iraqi people are returning to normalcy. Representatives walked the streets of a local market and talked with vendors. Some Representatives talked with the Iraqi people about security and enjoyed a game of table foosball and even sat down for a haircut by an Iraqi barber.
When the "Warrior" brigade first came to Saab al Bour, the town had less than 2,000 residents as a result of sectarian violence.
"(The tour) helps them to get a full picture of what is going on here," said Sgt. Christopher Wright, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., an intelligence analyst for the 2nd Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment, 56th SBCT. "In this area, things have greatly improved over the last year. The population has grown from less than 3,000 to nearly 14,000 and the Iraq Security Forces have been very successful.
"This is the best (congressional delegate) tour we've had here," said 1st Lieut. Aaron Skirkanich, a fire support officer for 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div. "(The Representatives) got to interact with the people of Saab al Bour, and they had fun meeting the Iraqis. They played games, they shopped, and the even got a haircut."
In a direct comparison, the efforts of both the Soldiers and the citizens in the Saab al Bour area impressed Rep. Hunter, of Calif.
"As a prior-service Marine who served in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004, it's amazing how far we have come. This is a tribute to the hard work of our men and women in uniform. It is a positive change for Iraq."
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