WASHINGTON -- On a whirlwind tour of Iraq, Republican Sen. John Ensign reports Saturday being "much more optimistic" than during his last tour in 2003 but believes it's still "an impossible thing to say" how much longer U.S. troops should remain in the country.
The Republican Party's presumed presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has suggested a possible 100-year presence in Iraq, and Ensign asked Iraqis if they foresaw an American military footprint similar to that in Germany or South Korea.
"They don't think that would be a good idea to have American forces here permanently," Ensign said on a conference call Saturday from Baghdad. Ensign met with Iraqi government officials as well as locals in a small city south of Baghdad.
Ensign, however, said any further pull-out than what is already planned this year by the Pentagon depends on conditions on the ground.
"I cannot tell you how afraid they are of America pulling out too soon," Ensign said. "They think it would be a complete disaster for this country."
He said: "If we leave right now, I'm telling you Iran will overrun this country. If America pulls out, Iran will have a hay day."
Ensign traveled with two other Republican senators, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, arriving Friday night. They met with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, U.S. commander Army Gen. David Petraeus, as well as Iraqi's deputy prime minister and national security adviser.
Like many lawmakers who have toured Iraq since the surge of U.S. troops last year, he saw signs of optimism and progress. On Saturday, the lawmakers and staffs helicoptered 25 minutes south of Baghdad to a small city where Ensign said "Al Qaeda two months ago was completely in control."
"Today I was able to walk down the street interact with the children, interact with the local merchants to see how they were doing business," Ensign said.
He felt safe enough to forgo a helmet but wore the mandatory flak jacket. His entourage of eight was protected by about 20 to 25 soldiers. He was struck by "how appreciative" Iraqis were of the Americans.
"They were literally waving and smiling at you," he said. "There literally is hope now in this area."
Ensign praised the local security forces - Sons of Iraq and others - who he said the U.S. is paying $10 a day to work in conjunction with American troops to protect neighborhoods. In talking to several of them, he was impressed with their commitment and desire to join the more formal Iraqi police or army.
The senator believes the improved security he observed is "very typical" of what is happening in the rest of the country. "Baghdad is much safer."
Much has been studied about the impact of the additional 28,000 troops sent to Iraq last year. Ensign said a combination of factors allowed for the improved security, which came partly as Sunnis in Iraq switched allegiances and began working with U.S. forces instead of Al Qaeda.
"Are there potential problems out there? Yes," he said. But he believes a return to fierce infighting is highly unlikely.
"The Iraqi people are rejecting the insurgency, rejecting Al Qaeda," he said. "The Iraqis and the Sunnis woke up and said Al Qaeda is our enemy and America is here to help us."
Ensign met with Nevada troops including graduates from Basic, Western and Chaparral high schools. Some of the Nevadans have done two or three tours in Iraq.
The senator will remain in Iraq Sunday before heading to Afghanistan on Monday. He will return to Washington on Tuesday, in time for votes later that day in the Senate.
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