Murphy Returns to Iraq in International Tour

March 5, 2007 (WPVI) -- A freshman congressman from Bucks County just returned to the Iraqi war zone where he served in 2003. Last month, Representative Patrick Murphy visited 7 countries in 7 days to get an update on the situation.

It didn't take long for Congressman Patrick Murphy to be reminded he was back in Baghdad. The Iraq War veteran spent seven days touring seven Middle Eastern countries. Night number one - a car bomb went off in the Iraqi capital.

Murphy described the moment the car bomb went off: "Being there before as a Captain in the 82nd Airborne Division I didn't really flinch, because it's kind of expected in that environment."

Murphy, the Democrat who has represented Pennsylvania's 8th District for only two months, returned from his trip a week ago. He met with some of the same soldiers he served with as a member of the Army's 82nd Airborne in 2003.

Murphy said he found support for his plan to set a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal, despite the Bush administration's view that it would "embolden" the enemy.

Murphy told Action News, "In Iraq we had a timeline as far as to pass their constitution, to have their elections. And we should let it be very clear to the Iraqis and to the rest fo the world that we are not an occupying force. That we are not going to be there forever."

Congressman Murphy was also troubled by his visit to Afghanistan. He said the Taliban is making inroads on the U.S. Military, which is stretched way too thin in that country.

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