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Pelosi Visits Iraq Shortly After Boehner Trip

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi made her first trip to Iraq in two years this weekend, following closely on the heels of a visit by Speaker John Boehner.

Pelosi’s office announced Saturday that the California Democrat “arrived in Iraq this morning with a bipartisan delegation to assess progress on redeployment, and to meet with Iraqi and U.S. officials. The delegation will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in addition to Members of the Iraqi Parliament, and will be briefed by U.S. security and diplomatic officials.”

The trip is Pelosi’s first visit to Iraq since May 2009.

Boehner led a delegation to Iraq over the weekend of April 16-17. The Ohio Republican said at the time that his trip “focused on the issues expected to determine how the Government of Iraq and the United States proceed during the transition this year and how we will continue to work to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship moving forward which fully respects Iraq’s sovereignty and reflects core U.S. interests and values.”

American troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year, but Boehner said this week the U.S. should leave a small residual force in place, to help ensure the nation’s stability.

All Congressional delegations abroad are required to be bipartisan; Pelosi is traveling with seven Democrats and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.). Boehner traveled with four Republicans and Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.).

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