Ensign: Iraqi leader faces tough road

Suzanne Struglinski

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 | 11:44 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Iraq's new leader has the "right vision for the country" but faces a difficult and dangerous situation, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said.

Ensign and other senators met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer in Iraq this weekend as he stopped to see U.S. operations and visit soldiers there during his trip to D-Day commemoration ceremonies in Normandy, France.

"He has the right vision for the country," Ensign said of Allawi. "He is very appreciative of what America has done for them and continues to do for them."

Ensign, along with Senate Majority Leader Bill First, R-Tenn. and Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, spoke with Allawi about his plans to lead the country.

Ensign said Allawi gave him the impression he will be a good leader and keeping him alive to let him do his job will be a challenge.

"He's got a big target on this chest," Ensign said.

Ensign said he is optimistic the U.S. forces there will be successful in maintaining security and allow Allawi to begin to run his country, but "still it is going to be very difficult," especially after the June 30 handover.

"It's a very dangerous time, the insurgents are going to do everything they can do to disrupt it," Ensign said.

As jobs get created and the country's own police force begins to improve, the situation should get better, Ensign said.

Ensign saw changes since his last trip to Iraq in December, the weekend U.S. soldiers captured Saddam Hussein, including increases in commerce.

"It's still a dangerous place but so much better than what we see on the nightly news," Ensign said. "The roads are busier, especially now that contracts are being fulfilled."

Ensign said the U.S. media in Iraq are holed up due to security concerns, but once there is an explosion or a bombing, they go and cover it.

"Their view of the world is so skewed," Ensign said.

Ensign said American really does not understand how compassionate the people in uniform serving over there are and how much the Iraqi people support their efforts.

Ensign had lunch with 12 soldiers from Nevada and called their families when he returned to the United States to tell them they were doing fine.