Ellison Returns From Iraq

In an interview from Germany:

Ellison told reporters that the American military is making significant progress on several fronts, and that the tide seems to have turned against Al Qaeda in critical places, according to USA Today. In Ramadi, for example, he said that American partnerships with Iraqi police and religious leaders appear to have Al Qaeda on the run:

Ellison said that local leaders in Ramadi told him of how they partnered with U.S. and Iraqi military officials to virtually rid al-Qaeda from the city. Although the lawmakers had to travel in flak vests and helmets, ‘we did see people walking around the streets of Ramadi, going back and forth to the market.’

There have been fewer anti-U.S. sermons as the violence has been reduced, Ellison said, and religious leaders meet regularly with U.S. military officials.

It will be interesting to see if follows through on these findings, or if he continues to support a policy of retreat in Iraq.