Porter still sticks to party line on Iraq

There's nothing like a military general to provide you political cover.

Republican Rep. Jon Porter, fresh off his fourth trip to Iraq and heading into his fourth race in Nevada's 3rd District, is so good at mimicking David Petraeus he was mouthing the general's words a full five days before they were spoken on Capitol Hill.

Congressional representatives of both parties return from Iraq with a clearer vision of the problems on the ground. Some of them, such as Republican Sens. John Warner and Chuck Hagel, even return from a trip uncommitted to "staying the course."

But Porter must believe Iraq is a winning issue for him. Veterans make up a huge chunk of his district and, as a general proposition, believe military commanders should be calling the shots about how to proceed in Iraq four years after the so-called mission was accomplished.

Porter holds his ground, and who's to question what he says he sees with his own eyes?

"Not only were there more people out, you're seeing irrigation projects happening," Porter said last week about his recent trip. "There was a substantial amount of irrigation and new construction in the red zone."

He also talked to Iraqi soldiers and leaders, all apparently brimming with pride.

"I would ask them about their family and kids and they would, to a person, have a smile and say 'It's so much better,' " Porter said. "They're sensing that there has been a lot of successes."

Porter has never seen anything in Iraq but progress, even in the darkest days of policing the Civil War.

After past trips, he would report back that morale was high, that the mainstream media covering Iraq doesn't tell the whole story or that he met with women freed of their Islamic shackles and serving in the elected government.

This time, the matter of most concern was presented to Porter by U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Petraeus.

It had nothing to do with the continued lack of political progress, or the fact that the Iraqi government says its troops are still unprepared to secure their country without our soldiers.

No, Crocker's big crock was about $9-a-gallon gasoline if U.S. troops withdrawal "prematurely."

If you ask Porter whether he believes Crocker, Porter just reiterates what Crocker says, without telling you whether he buys it. He gets the administration's talking points across without actually subscribing to them.

It's hard to figure out what Porter believes about Iraq. It's much easier to find the political reality. Next year, his Democratic challenger will undoubtedly call for an end to the war. By not taking a stand, Porter will be able to slam his opponent's stand simply by saying he's been to Iraq and that he talks to the soldiers.

"What I've been saying is that our troops and our leaders on the ground want to come home as soon as possible," Porter said. "We should be getting our families home as soon as possible. I have been hearing that from the generals for a month."

Don't mistake that for Porter supporting a withdrawal.

"Everyone is pretty realistic that an immediate reduction of troops is not appropriate," he said.

Porter wants more information on the consequences in the region if the troops are withdrawn.

"One of our goals was to secure that region in the world from Iran," Porter said. "I would suspect that just from the Iran perspective that we will have a presence there. We already have the leaders in Iran saying they want to blow up Israel."

On this, the sixth anniversary of terrorist attacks on our nation (not by Iraq, and certainly not by Iran), Porter is lost in war-on-terror messaging that stresses the rise of a dangerous Iran.

I asked him whether he believes the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq has made Iran stronger.

"No, I just don't think so," Porter said. "I think it's kept them in check."

Porter said Crocker told him there would be consequences if U.S. troops are withdrawn. These include the fabled $9-a-gallon gasoline and "genocide like we have not seen."

Porter may be trying to find the consequences on his own. "I go (to Iraq) to ask the questions," he said.

Porter also thinks the best thing Congress can do about Iraq is take another recess.

"The sooner we adjourn, the better for the world," he said.

Besides, there's the little matter of his own re-election to tend to, not to mention his potential run against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010. I asked whether he plans to take on Reid.

"I like the House," he said, talking up his role on the powerful tax- and budget-writing Ways and Means Committee. "I run the campaign 24-7 every day."

Once again, Porter didn't answer a question. But it helps explain why he wants to stay the course in Iraq.

Erin Neff's column runs Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. She can be reached at (702) 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.