Iraq

John Thune, John McCain, and Russ Feingold are traveling to Iraq:

Sen. Russ Feingold, who has called for a timetable for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq, is traveling to the country with a congressional delegation.

"I am looking forward to observing our country's mission in Iraq once again, and talking to our military commanders, Iraqi officials, and the men and women of our armed forces, who are serving our country so bravely in Iraq," Feingold, D-Wis., said in a statement.

"This is a critical opportunity to assess the mission in Iraq as I work with my colleagues to protect our national security and strengthen our global fight against terrorism."

Feingold will join Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., John Thune, R-S.D., along with several House members and governors, including Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota.

This is Feingold's second trip to Iraq. He also visited last year.

Feingold's office declined to release additional details.

UPDATE:  Here's an AP story on Thune entitled "Thune makes another trip to Iraq."

A delegation that includes U.S. Sen. John Thune is telling leaders in Iraq that the country needs to get its unity government in place, Thune, R-S.D., said Saturday.

"We've stressed to them that patience is wearing thin in the United States and we need so see some progress. That's been part of our mission, to deliver that message," he said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.

Because of security concerns, Thune said he couldn't discuss details of the trip, but said the group includes two other senators, three members of the House, and three governors.

"We've been visiting locations primarily to get an assessment of how things are going here and to convey to the Iraqi leaders the sense of urgency, the importance of getting this national unity government formed in a timely way," he said.

Thune, who's a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, visited Iraq in February 2005.

He said a noticeable change since then is the progress Iraq has made in providing its own military, police and border security.

"I think 15 of the 18 provinces have fewer than six incidents of violence per day, and that includes all violence," Thune said. "There's a big part of the country that is very much secure. The issues of concern are very concentrated (in area)."

The group has met with U.S. troops and commanders, and likely will meet with Iraqi troops before the trip ends, he said.

Others on the trip are Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Russell Feingold, D-Wis.; Reps. Tom Udall, D-N.M., Joe Schwarz, R-Mich., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill.; and Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, Bob Riley of Alabama, and Jon Huntsman of Utah.