Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, is upbeat about American prospects in Iraq - almost every analyst he's talked to predicts the number of U.S. troops can be drawn down, he said - but warns the fighting isn't over.

"I think that would be very premature (to think) because there are some neighborhoods where al Qaeda has really dug in," said Kline, a retired Marine Corps officer.

Still, Kline views the surge or recent buildup of U.S. troop strength in Iraq as successful.

In his third term in Congress, U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, says the fighting is not over in the Iraq War but progress is being made. He is hopeful troops will be soon coming home.

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, is upbeat about American prospects in Iraq - almost every analyst he's talked to predicts the number of U.S. troops can be drawn down, he said - but warns the fighting isn't over.

"I think that would be very premature (to think) because there are some neighborhoods where al Qaeda has really dug in," said Kline, a retired Marine Corps officer.

Still, Kline views the surge or recent buildup of U.S. troop strength in Iraq as successful.

"It's hard to find a serious observer who would say the surge hasn't worked to reduce the violence," he said. "The surge helped reinforce the tribal awakening that has occurred, particularly in the western part of the country but it's now spreading throughout the country," said Kline.

The tribes have come to view al Qaeda as the enemy, he explained. "All of that has reached the point where the security situation in Iraq is far, far better than it was in 2006," said Kline.

Not moving fast enough

The Iraqi government is still not moving as fast on issue as the U.S. would like., he opined. "And so that's a problem," said Kline.

Though hopeful that U.S. troop levels will be drawn down over the course of the year, there's a certain troop level that must maintained, Kline opined.

"Just to provide logistic support, rapid reaction, special operators and stuff - there's kind of a bottom number that it will be hard to go below," he said. "Not that we'll have American troops out there engaged in combat," said Kline. "I really see that winding down rapidly by the end of this year," he said.

Kline views the American invasion of Iraq as justified.

"It is worthwhile. It has been worthwhile. Soldiers serve over there voluntarily, bravely, and well," said Kline.

"Unless the politicians - and I understand I'm talking about myself - we dictate defeat, we will be successful," he said.

Last September Kline visited Ramadi, east of Baghdad, a city the Marines use to consider the most dangerous in the world, he said.

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