Progress in Iraq

Sen. Graham recently returned from a nine day trip to Iraq--two days as part of a congressional delegation and seven days as an Air Force reservist. He has concluded that the surge is working as a result of his visit and service.

In an interview on FoxNews Sunday Graham fleshed out the details of the sixteen Shieks that were now working with us to secure the country. In comments to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal upon his return that we should know by early Fall about the will of the Iraqi people to control their country and that we needed the Patreus years ago. This cautious optimism after return is bolstered by his comment while on the delegation visit that Iraqis are resilient people. In his editorial "Progress and Losses in Iraq" Graham explains the gains he saw in Iraq on the recent visit. He pointed out that their was more cooperation with tribal leaders in Anbar Province and that thy were encouraging young people to join the Iraqi police force. He was allowed into areas that were previously off-limits while with the delegation.

He was assigned with the Rule of Law Task Force while serving his week of reserve duty. He saw cases brought before courts and saw upclose that nothing good happens without a price. The price in this case was an optimistic American Navy Commander that assisted in building a court house and then was killed by an IED.

He also reported a security problem at Camp Buca where Al-Queda detainees are held along with prisoners who are not dangerous. The prison was becoming a recruiting ground for the terroists, but there was a plan to deal with the probelm.

He concludes that while there is progress in Iraq we have a long way to go to complete the task.

Photo sources: AP and Air Force News Service.

More pictures of Senator Graham's trip to and service in Iraq

Graham Serves in Iraq

A Senator usually visits Iraq for a few days as part of a congressional delegation and then returns stateside. They usually make their pronouncements about the situation from a political standpoint only. Sen. Graham is in a unique position being a United States Air Force Reserve Colonel and Judge Advocate.

Sen. Graham was a member of a recent delegation to Iraq with Sen. John McCain. He toured Iraq with the delegation on 1 and 2 April and then traded his casual clothes for desert camoflage. Sen. Graham served a week of active duty in Iraq with the Judge Advocate's office of the Multinational Force-Iraq.

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Sen. Graham Travels to Guantanamo to witness CSRT Hearing

Source: New York Times

Saturday marked the first hearing of a Combat Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) at that was closed to the media. This was a pivotal hearing of Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM) the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks.

"I was responsible for the 9/11 operation form A-Z," Mohammed admitted as he gave his confession to the tribunal consisting of three military officers and with two United States Senators Lindsey Graham and Carl Levin watched via closed circuit TV.

Senators Graham and Levin were present to observe the process and report back about what happened. Graham was an architect of the Military Commissions Act which Levin voted against. They released a joint statement today that explained the process and said that it went well. However, they added that "the true test of the CSRT process is not a case in which the detainee admits the allegations against him, it is a case in which the detainee disputes those allegations. Judicial review of the tribunals is ongoing. We will continue to review the process and will explore possible ways to improve this process through Congressional action."

Graham challenges colleagues to act rather than talk on Iraq

In comments to WCBD in Charleston Sen. Graham challenged his colleagues "political courage" because they are planning a vote a non-binding resolution that expresses their discontent with the 'surge' and urged them to "cheer them on" rather than cast a vote of "no confidence in Gen. Petraeus." He further said the vote would "empower our enemies, and be demoralizing to our own troops."

Graham Introduces Legislation to Honor General Francis Marion in Washington D.C.

The legislation was first introduced in the 109th Congress be Joe Wilson (R) in the Congress, Lindsey Graham in the Senate and signed on to by the remainder of the state's delegation. This legislation would allow for a statue of General Francis Marion to be built in Marion Park, located at the intersection of E Street South Carolina Avenue in Washington, D.C. This legislation has been introduced in the Congress and Senate again.

109th: S. 2822, H.R. 5057
110th: S. 312, H.R. 497

The Congress passed the bill last session by voice vote, but never received a hearing and vote in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. H.R. 5057 has been reintroduced as HR. 497 and S. 2822 has been reintroduced as S. 312. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has placed the bill on their legislative calendar, but there is yet to be a hearing scheduled. H.R. 497 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and has yet to be placed on the legislative calendar.

In comments to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal in 2006 Congressman Wilson said, "As a South Carolinian, I am proud his legacy has been honored with a memorial park in Washington, D.C. Yet I feel strongly that a statue of the Swamp Fox should be erected on its premises. Passage of this bill is a crucial first step in making this dream a reality."

General Francis Marion is counted in the lineage of the United States Army Rangers and used the forerunner of modern day guerilla warfare techniques during the Revolutionary War. Marion was a member of the South Carolina Provincial Congress and held a commission as a captain in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment. (Source: Wikipedia)

Graham Says Iraq on the Verge of Chaos

In an AP interview Lindsey said

We're on the verge of chaos, and the current plan is not working

US and Iraqi officials need to be held accountable for the lack of progress and he said

All of them. It's their job to come up with a game plan

He has been calling for changes to the strategy since the begining operations in Iraq. He has criticized troop levels and has asked tough questions of leaders and never gotten satisfactory answers.

Graham serves in Afghanistan

Sen. Graham is the only member of the National Guard or Reserves who serves in the U.S. Senate. He recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan where he helped to train Afghan lawyers and judges.

Graham helps train Afghan Lawyers