( Rep. Mark ) Kennedy sees progress in trip to Iraq

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/13226460.htm

Kennedy sees progress in trip to Iraq

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Rep. Mark Kennedy said he saw significant progress on a weekend trip to Iraq, even as some in Congress have complained about the Bush administration's performance in transitioning the country to Iraqi control.

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"The reason I go to Iraq is to thank the troops, see what we can do to help them, and benchmark where we were this year vs. last year," Kennedy said in a telephone interview on his flight from Iraq to Germany, where he was scheduled to visit injured troops on his way back to the U.S.

"On every dimension - the ability of the Iraqi government, the preparedness of Iraqi security forces, economic development - the situation has improved vs. my last two visits."

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"Last year we had to fly in and out every night," he added. "This year we stayed overnight in Baghdad."

Kennedy, a candidate for U.S. Senate, said there was a "huge gulf" between what's on the ground and what's reported in the media.