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Hillary Clinton visits Iraq with US senators
US senator Hillary Clinton was in Baghdad as part of a delegation from the US Congress led by senator John McCain.
US senator Hillary Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, was in Baghdad on Saturday as part of a delegation from the US Congress led by senator John McCain, meeting Iraqi and US military leaders.
Clinton, who along with McCain has often criticised US management of the Iraq conflict, said that after meeting the country's prime minister as well as the US commander in charge of training and equipping Iraqi forces, her impression was one of "cautious optimism."
"Cautious because there are so many challenges, cautious because there are neighbours of Iraq that are not necessarily enthusiastic about the success of the Iraqi people in creating and sustaining a multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy," she told reporters.
She later said she was referring to Iran and Syria.
The United States has regularly criticised Damascus for not doing enough to stop militants using Syrian territory to get into Iraq, and US officials frequently voice concern about Iran's intentions in its eastern neighbour.
The five senators visiting Iraq - who also included Russel Feingold, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham - agreed that the recent elections in Iraq were a major step forward, and were united in their praise for the US troops serving in the country.
They said, however, they were chastened to see the tight security precautions, adding that they had not yet ventured outside the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses the Iraqi government and US embassy.
