Recap: Schmidt's trip to Iraq

If you've been reading the Enquirer, then you know all about Rep. Jean Schmidt's recent jaunt to Bulgaria, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

But let's refresh, and go over a few additional details:

The Enquirer first heard from the Miami Township congresswoman last Monday, when she called to say that she was in Bulgaria. It was beautiful - and cold, she said. Schmidt was asked about her visit to Iraq, but she said she hadn't made it to Iraq yet. She also was asked if she was backing Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, for majority leader. Schmdit said she hadn't spoken with Boehner, so she couldn't say.

And that was it. A phone call from half a world away, and no news to report.

Thankfully, Schmidt's office scheduled a conference call on 5 p.m. on Thursday so all the reporters following her trip to Iraq could get the latest. Only the Enquirer and the Post were on the call, so Schmidt made small talk waiting for other reporters to join the call. She described watching the end of the Bengals game on the flight overseas and how she hoped quarterback Carson Palmer will be OK. Finally a reporter from Loveland joined the call and she got going. Only one problem: Schmdit still hadn't been to Iraq. So 30 minutes later, we had all the details we needed on her visit to Bulgaria, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but still nothing on Iraq - and no answer on whether she was backing Boehner.

Read the story that followed that phone call here.

Read today's column that also came from that phone call here.

On Saturday, Schmdit called the Enquirer for a third time. She had just spent 15 hours in in Iraq on Friday, during which time she met with top military leaders and soldiers, including several from Ohio. Finally.

Read that story here.

Note that despite Schmidt saying that the troops have enough body armor, a recent analysis from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner said 80 percent of the fatal injuries to Marines in the study might have been prevented by more body armor. Army and Marine Corps generals vowed last week to improve body armor for troops after meeting this week with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

More than 1,500 soldiers and 633 Marines have been killed in Iraq, many by rifle shots or explosions that better armor could have prevented.

Read more about that report and the meeting last week in USA Today here.

Schmidt, who caused a ruckus in the House last November during a debate on withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, said that while she stands by her remarks to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a decorated former Marine, that "cowards cut and run, Marines never do," she has a much better understanding now of the challenges in Iraq.

"Regardless of those statements ... anytime you get to see things first-hand, you get a better perspective," Schmidt said.

Schmidt returned to the U.S. yesterday.