Most freshmen have not been to Afghanistan

Most members of Congress elected in 2006 have been to Iraq but not Afghanistan, while 16 lawmakers in the freshman class have not visited either country, according to a survey conducted by The Hill.

The Class of 2006 is dominated by Democrats who were swept into office partly because of the nation’s dissatisfaction with the Iraq war. Many Democrats have criticized President Bush on his leadership of the Iraq war, claiming it has hampered U.S. efforts to combat al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

{mosads}Seventeen of the 65 lawmakers indicated they had not been to Iraq, while 22 said they had been to Afghanistan. Twenty-one legislators have been to both war-torn countries.

The 16 members who have been to neither Iraq nor Afghanistan are Democrats or caucus with Democrats, including Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Bethany Lesser, Brown’s spokeswoman, said, “Sen. Brown has plans to visit the region in the next few months.” Sanders’s office declined to comment.

The 14 House legislators who have not visited either country include Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (Texas), a member of the Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Kathy Castor (Fla.), who sits on the Armed Services panel. Reps. Ron Klein (Fla.) and Albio Sires (N.J.), who are Foreign Affairs Committee members, also have not traveled to Iraq or Afghanistan.

The other 10 House members who have not been to Iraq or Afghanistan are Reps. Bruce Braley (Iowa), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Phil Hare (Ill.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Steve Kagen (Wis.), Nick Lampson (Texas), John Sarbanes (Md.), Heath Shuler (N.C.), Zack Space (Ohio) and John Yarmuth (Ky.). Clarke sits on the Homeland Security Committee.

The 13 freshman Republicans who responded to the survey said they had been to either Iraq or Afghanistan, with five of them visiting both. Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) was the only member who declined to participate in the survey. He reportedly visited Iraq in 2007.

Of the 50 Democratic freshmen elected in November 2006, 35 have traveled to Iraq and 15 have gone to Afghanistan, according to the survey.

Rodriguez said he does have plans to go to one of the countries but would not disclose which one, citing security reasons. Castor, Klein and Sires did not respond to follow-up inquiries.

Some lawmakers have said getting a first-hand account of the conditions on the ground plays a major role in their assessment of what has been called the “issue of our time” on the House and Senate floors.

Rep. David Davis (R-Tenn.), who has been to Iraq but not Afghanistan, said, “I spoke with many of the military leaders there, and it was quite informative. It was better to be able to see what was happening on the ground firsthand rather than being briefed by my staff.”

The most dramatic policy shift following a trip to Iraq came from fifth-term Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), who reversed his position in 2007 and now opposes a troop withdrawal timetable.

Going to Iraq and Afghanistan does not mean members will get a complete picture of the situations there, said David Green, a political science professor at Hofstra University.

“I think there is a possible benefit to visiting the countries because you can get some firsthand information,” Green said. “But the possible downside is that you may leave with less information because you can visit Iraq without actually visiting Iraq. You will get a dog-and-pony show. A member of Congress doesn’t go outside the Green Zone, so what you see will be presented by the military and administration.”

He added, “Is there benefit to visiting the country? Yes, but is it necessary to make informed policy decisions? No. I don’t think you need to go to Iraq to know it is a grand strategic mistake.”

The Class of 2006, like the rest of Congress, generally falls into two camps on Iraq, with Democrats supporting troop withdrawal timetables and Republicans opposing them.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to Congress, recently traveled to Afghanistan for the first time. During an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, he suggested that Afghanistan is being neglected, saying, “I think the world should focus on Afghanistan, help to improve the quality of life of the people, and give the people real opportunity.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has repeatedly made that same argument. Her office on Wednesday issued a release highlighting quotes from military leaders that suggest the war in Iraq has taken resources away from U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) is the only senator who has been to Afghanistan since being elected in November 2006. Meanwhile, Rep. Bill Sali (Idaho), the House GOP class president, is the only freshman member who has visited Afghanistan but not Iraq.

Six first-year members said they have taken a total of three trips to the two countries: Corker and Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.), Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), David Loebsack (D-Iowa), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

Others visited the countries before they were elected to serve on Capitol Hill. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) was in Afghanistan when he served as a vice admiral in the Navy. Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), a former secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, went to Afghanistan with his son in 2004 as a journalist, and wrote a piece on his experiences for Parade magazine. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) served in Iraq and has also been to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, a couple of members who have been sworn in during the 110th Congress have been to both lands. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who was selected to replace the late Sen. Craig Thomas (R), has been to Iraq and Afghanistan since his appointment in June of 2007. Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.), elected in the fall of 2007, has visited both countries since replacing former Rep. Marty Meehan (D).

Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.) falls in with the majority of the freshmen who have been to Iraq and not Afghanistan. He said he had a trip to Afghanistan planned for the first week in March that was canceled due to last-minute complications, but added he wants to visit the country in the near future.

Hare is planning a trip for the beginning of May and Lampson is scheduled to go to one of the countries, but also declined to say which destination because of security concerns.

Kagen said that he is on a list to be included in upcoming trips. In a statement, Kagen said, “I will be visiting our Wisconsin soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan very soon …”

Shuler spokesman Andrew Whalen said, “Congressman Shuler was slated to go on a codel [congressional delegation trip] to Iraq and Afghanistan in February with Sen. [John] Ensign [R-Nev.]. But he was taken off the list due to space constraints.”

Rodriguez said, “I have met many Texans and others who have served in the Middle East, and I continue to keep apprised of our efforts there through firsthand accounts and reports from our troops and military officials.”

Hirono is “anticipating a trip to Iraq in the coming weeks or months,” according to John White, the congresswoman’s chief of staff.

Mike Sherry contributed to this report.  A chart listing the members is available for download here .