Multi-National Division – North Public Affairs Office:.On the 35th anniversary of his release from the Hanoi Hilton, Arizona Senator John McCain arrived in Mosul with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham to get an assessment of the situation in Northern Iraq from American and Iraqi military leaders, March 16.
The senators met with Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, commander of Multi-National Division-North, Col. Michael Bills, commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Lt. Gen. Riyadh Jalal Tawfiq, commander of the Ninewah Operations Command, members of the U.S. Dept. of State and other military leaders for a briefing on current operations in northern Iraq.
“The purpose of the day’s visit was to provide a first-hand account of the situation in Mosul to elected American political leaders,” said Lt. Col. Bob Molinari, regimental operations officer, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
“This is a critical location for battling against the terrorists,” Hertling said. “They can go back to the American people and tell them how important this battle is.”
The senators flew into Mosul from Washington D.C. for a two-hour meeting and planned to make several more stops on March 16 in other areas of Iraq.
General Petraeus has identified Mosul as a "strategic battleground" for Al Qaeda.
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The above photo (credit: Sgt. Patrick Lair, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) shows John McCain (center) arriving at the Mosul airport. On the right is Major Gen. Mark P. Hertling, on the left is Iraqi Army Lt. Gen. Riyadh Jalal Tawfiq.
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