A delegation of U.S. House Armed Services Committees members has returned from a trip to Iraq and other locations in the Middle East, visiting U.S. troops there. West Central Missouri Congressman Ike Skelton, the rankingDemocrat on the Committee was one of the leaders of the group. He says Iraq is a “must-win” situation for the United States. Skelton is concerned the morale of the troops could be hurt if hostile fire pay and family separation allowances are reduced. Each could drop by $75 to $150 at the end of September unless Congress votes to maintain the higher entitlement levels.
