WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-29) returned from the Middle East where he and five other Members of Congress traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Pakistan to visit U.S. troops and receive updates on intelligence and military operations.
“I could not have been more impressed with the bravery and dedication of our troops. They place themselves in harm’s way every day to defend our country. We owe them so much,” Congressman Schiff said.
Congressman Schiff met in Baghdad with Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and General George Casey, Commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq. He also visited with American soldiers, including Californians in the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division whom he presented with a banner made by children at the Asian Youth Center in San Gabriel, California.
In Kabul, Congressman Schiff met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, received military and counter-narcotics briefings and had dinner with U.S. troops based there. He also met in Islamabad with the Pakistani Foreign Minister, and in Bahrain with Crown Prince Shaikh bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Minister of State Mohammad Abdul Ghaffar. He also spent one evening aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) which is currently in the Persian Gulf.
Led by Rep. Jeff Miller (FL-1) and escorted by the U.S. Marine Corps, the official U.S. Congressional delegation also included Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Guam-At Large), Rep. John Boozman (AR-3), Rep. Tom Cole (OK-4) and Rep. Jim Marshall (GA-3).
Congressman Schiff last visited Iraq in August 2003 and Afghanistan in April 2002. Both of these trips were also with official Congressional delegations.
Congressman Schiff is the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California’s 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.