Loebsack home from Iraq

Loebsack home from Iraq

Loebsack said seeing the situation in Iraq for himself reinforced his belief that it was proper for Congress to oppose the troop increase.

“Yeah, I do even more so, believe that it was the right thing to do,” he said. “I don’t see how escalation is going to accomplish what we want.”

But he also said he was "amazed" by the spirit and dedication of U.S. troops deployed in the war zone. All those involved are 'giving it their best,' including the troops, said Loebsack. 'They are doing their job ... they're there to do a job and they take it seriously and I am amazed they manage to do it in the face of all this.'

No one asked about the nonbinding resolution passed by the House this month opposing President Bush’s decision to deploy 21,500 additional combat troops to Iraq.

Loebsack said the troops weren’t interested in politics. “‘We’re just here to do our job,’ is what they told me.”

As a next step he said he is looking toward helping support legislation by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., that will put conditions on money for the war and "we can begin to be serious about disengagement and send a very serious message to George Bush, not just a nonbinding resolution."