Armed with Christmas and Chanukah cards for American troops, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is one of five members of the House of Representatives currently touring the war theatres of Afghanistan and Iraq, with additional stops in Uzbekistan, Jordan and the Ukraine.

Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz) is leading the bipartisan congressional group which also includes DSemocrats Don Payne of New Jersey, Loretta Sanchez of California and Charles Taylor of North Carolina. 

Aaron Hunter, a spokesman for Davis, said the group is on a fact-finding mission "to assess the situation in Iraq--training of Iraqi troops, status of upcoming elections and reconstruction efforts." In addition, they will "see how taxpayers dollars are being spent" and visit with the troops.

Davis, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, will distribute holiday cards created by San Diego school children to American military personnel.. —Donald H. Harrison