U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is part of a congressional delegation that has embarked on an official visit to the Middle East.
Senator Collins is joined on the trip by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and Lindsey Graham (R-NC).
For security reasons, a detailed itinerary cannot be released at this point. However, today Senator Collins, and the delegation, is in Iraq where they met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as well as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill and General Raymond Odierno. Senator Collins also plans to meet with Maine troops who are serving overseas.
Yesterday, Collins and the delegation members were in Libya where they met with Colonoel Muammar al-Gadaffi before traveling to Kuwait.
This is Senator Collins’ fourth trip to the region. Her last visit was in December 2006.