A Christian Science Monitor story is making the rounds today. It describes the powerful and often persuasive nature of trips to Baghdad for members of Congress, changing the minds of such opponents to the October 2002 Iraq Resolution as left-leaning Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee. But as we've seen over the past several months, a significant number of Democrats have also returned from Iraq with confidence in the Allied effort. Even if terrorist violence weren't decreasing, works projects are reportedly begun at the rate of 100 a day - that's convincing reconstruction. The Pentagon and House Republican leaders are among those encouraging representatives to travel and see democratization with their own eyes.

How is the left wing of the Democratic Party treating the opportunity? Ask Nancy:

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who voted against force in Iraq, is not encouraging Democrats to visit Iraq, but "neither is she discouraging it," says a Democratic leadership aide. "Members have been encouraged to visit the wounded at the Walter Reed [Army Medical Center]."

Walter Reed is a location of choice, of course, because a visit doesn't require leaving the Beltway or its circular-talk pessimism. Nor does anyone visiting Walter Reed instead of Baghdad have a chance to witness what the wounded have been bravely working and fighting for.