Congressman Moulton Returns From Weeklong Congressional Trip to Iraq, Afghanistan
February 20th, 2015
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), returned from a weeklong, bipartisan House Armed Services Committee Congressional Delegation to five countries in Asia and the Middle East, including the Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Moulton served four tours of duty with the Marines in Iraq between 2003 and 2008. This was his first trip back to the region since his final deployment.
On the Congressional Delegation, Moulton met with key regional leaders including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Iraqi President Fuad Masum, King Abdullah II of Jordan, as well as numerous ambassadors and military leaders stationed across the region.
On February 11th, President Barack Obama sent Congress an official request for war authorization against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. Congress will begin to debate the draft authorization this week. Prior to the trip, Moulton stressed that to gain his support, the President would need to present a clear strategy that is “led by political and diplomatic efforts to unify and empower a local coalition to defeat ISIL, supported by American military assistance—not the other way around.”
Today, upon returning from the region, Moulton reiterated the need for a political strategy. “After meetings with leaders from across the Middle East, it is even more clear to me how critical it is that we defeat ISIL,” said Moulton. “I continue to believe that the best way stabilize the Middle East is to provide the Iraqi government with diplomatic and political support and empower Iraqi leaders to take on this fight. I look forward to working with President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and other U.S. and military leaders to identify and implement a strategy that will defeat ISIL and empower the Iraqi government.”
Moulton joined Representatives Brad Ashford (D-NE), Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) on the Congressional Delegation. They departed on Friday, February 13, and returned Friday, February 20.
###
