Ruppersberger Meets with Troops, Leaders in Iraq

(Baghdad, Iraq) — Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, an appropriator who serves on the House defense subcommittee, last week traveled to Iraq to meet with American troops and commanders on the frontlines to evaluate current resources and strategy. While there, Congressman Ruppersberger had the honor of meeting Marylanders stationed in Baghdad and Anbar who are working to train, advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts.

Iraq was the last stop on a congressional delegation trip through the Middle East last week. The group also met with Iraqi military leaders and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones.

“I was in Iraq to hear directly from U.S. and Iraqi military leaders about the fight against ISIS – to find out what’s working and what’s not,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “As always, I was deeply humbled and proud to meet with Maryland servicemen and women on the frontlines, putting their lives on the line to protect our nation and take out ISIS safe havens in Iraq and Syria.”

The delegation trip also included stops in Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. In Israel, Ruppersberger met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visited serval military sites to get an update on joint missile defense efforts.  In the UAE, Ruppersberger met U.S. military leaders as well as a member of the UAE Ministry of Defense and toured Emirati missile defense sites to review efforts to strengthen cooperation among Arab Gulf states.

In Bahrain, Ruppersberger, met with U.S. Navy leadership and servicemembers – including Marylanders – to discuss regional threats that impact stability in the Middle East and at home. During the visit, Ruppersberger met sailors aboard the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, an aircraft carrier deployed in the Persian Gulf.