CRAPO TO DISCUSS VISIT TO IRAQ

Washington, DC â?? Idaho Senator Mike Crapo will discuss developments during his visits to Iraq, Jordan, Russia, Latvia, and the Ukraine today during a conference call with reporters from Amman, Jordan. For the last few days, Crapo has been traveling with Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senator James DeMint (R-South Carolina) as part of a congressional tour inspecting U.S. security and diplomatic operations in the Middle East, Russia, and the Baltic States. As part of the delegation tour, Crapo completed a visit to troops in Iraq earlier today. Today's visit to Iraq was not previously announced due to security concerns. Crapo arrived in Baghdad about 5 p.m. local time (7 a.m. Mountain time) and was scheduled to be on the ground with troops in Baghdad and Fallujah. The delegation was also scheduled to receive security briefings from U.S. military leaders and meet with Iraqi government officials. The delegation returned to Amman, Jordan, following the visit to Iraq. This is the last leg of a trip that started Friday, May 27. Crapo will return to the U.S. on Saturday, June 2. During the last week, the delegation has met with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Latvian government officials in Riga, Latvia; Russian security and government officials; Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and other elected officials in that country; and government officials in Jordan. Photographs of the visit are available on Crapo's website, http://crapo.senate.gov, or through Crapo's communications staff at the phone numbers listed above. A conference call for reporters interested in speaking with Crapo about the trip is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Mountain/1:30 p.m. Pacific. If you are interested in participating, please contact Susan Wheeler, (202) 224-5150.