http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/05/10/pelosi-visits-iraq/ Pelosi visits Iraq
@ 9:32 am by Michael O'Brien
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made a surprise trip to Iraq this weekend, meeting with the country's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and other top officials.
Pelosi talked about the progress made in laying the groundwork for the eventual, announced withdrawal of troops by the summer of next year.
"If we are going to have a diminished physical military presence, we are have to have a strong intelligence presence," Pelosi said, according to the Associated Press. "We are aware that there are problems, but both the Iraqi government and parliament are trying to make use of the partnership between us and the United States in order to solve problems."
Pelosi has been a longtime critic of the war in Iraq, as well as critical of the so-called "surge" of troops several years ago widely credited with turning the tide in the war.