Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell (center) of Kentucky tells reporters about his recent trip to Iraq during a press briefing in the Pentagon on Oct. 16, 2003. McConnell led the congressional delegation of Republican Senators Larry Craig (left) of Idaho, Craig Thomas (2nd from right) of Wyoming, and Lincoln Chafee (right) of Rhode Island, to Iraq to talk to constituents and assess the progress of the Coalition's efforts to rebuild the nation.