COURTESY OF ED CASE
U.S. Rep. Ed Case met service personnel with Hawaii ties yesterday at Camp Bayonet in Kirkuk, Iraq. They are, from left, Airman 1st Class Bronson Beaver, of Waianae; 1st Lt. Matt Eykebosch, of Kaneohe; Staff Sgt. Arnold Castro, a Radford High School graduate; 1st Lt. Jacqueline Blando, of Kahului; and Maj. Jonathan Leong, of Aina Haina.
Case calls visit
to Iraq worth the
obvious riskThe isle congressman admits
dark thoughts on a helicopter
flight in the Sunni Triangle
U.S. Rep. Ed Case flew at low altitude in a Black Hawk helicopter from northern Iraq to an airfield near Baghdad yesterday soon after a U.S. helicopter was shot down, killing at least 16 soldiers.
"I think it was on all of our minds," Case said by phone yesterday. "As we flew over the countryside in a darkened helicopter that had no lights on, I certainly looked down at the countryside.
"This was in the Sunni Triangle. I certainly looked down and thought about whether a missile would come up at our helicopter."
Case, a Democrat, and the rest of a six-person congressional delegation visiting Iraq left Tikrit for Baghdad yesterday, where they headed to Kuwait on a C-130 plane.
The delegation had been forewarned about the danger before leaving Washington, Case said.
"For what I have learned and what I have been able to do in Iraq, I wouldn't trade that increased risk for anything," he said. "It has been invaluable time for me in understanding what is really at stake here."
His experience caused him to ponder broader questions of U.S. military involvement in the rest of the world, he said.
"We civilians have to be very careful when and under what circumstances we ask our military to carry out a mission," he said.
Case spent three days with troops in the field and said despite their knowledge of the downed U.S. helicopter, they believe in their mission and support the U.S. involvement in Iraq.
He handed out li hing mui, Maui sugar and wasabi peas to Hawaii service members.
He said the troops are upbeat, not fearful and believe they are doing the right thing.
Despite the attacks, Case said the day in Tikrit and Kirkuk was the most productive yet. In Baghdad, he said, he didn't get a good feel for the country.
"We talked directly with the Iraqis," Case said. "They clearly want their country back."
"My greatest fear was that we'd be involved in a foreign country without the support of the general population," he said.
Case said it was difficult to get the answer, but he said "enough has sifted through that cocoon to convince me that they want us to be here."
Case noted that shops are open and "life is taking hold."
"The Iraqis slowly but surely are taking control of their country," he said.
The vast majority of Iraqis support the coalition efforts to help rebuild Iraq, Case said.
Case was surprised to see that Iraq is neither desolate nor devastated, but has an abundance of oil, water and agricultural potential.
The delegation, made up of members of the House Small Business Committee, went to investigate whether small businesses could participate in the reconstruction effort. Case said most jobs in the short term are large-scale jobs that large multinational companies are better equipped to handle.
However, once the country is stabilized, it would be feasible for small businesses. Even those in Hawaii would have opportunities in high-tech, service and agricultural areas, he said.
The delegation met with American businessmen and women while in Kuwait. Their next stop is Germany, to visit troops, some of whom are recuperating in military hospitals.
The delegation will also meet with business and diplomatic groups "to convince them that their further assistance is both welcomed and needed."
Case returns to Hawaii Friday.
