Pelosi Statement on Visit to Iraq

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Jerusalem -- In preparation for Memorial Day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a bipartisan congressional delegation flew today from Israel to Iraq to express the appreciation of the Congress to our troops for their patriotism, their courage, and their service to our country. The delegation met with General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Mahmud al-Mashhadani, the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives.

Speaker Pelosi issued the following statement:

"In the meetings in Baghdad today, I made clear that the war must be brought to an end. It has already taken far too many American and Iraqi lives, it has cost far too much in money and the reputation of the United States, and it has drained far too much from the capability of our military.

"The Iraqi officials said that provincial elections would be held this year and that they would be transparent, inclusive, and a step toward national reconciliation. I hope this will be the case."