American and Iraqi forces have stabilized and secured much of Iraq, and Iraqi leaders have made modest but meaningful political progress. While continuing challenges remain in Iraq, the remarkable counterinsurgency strategy implemented by General Petraeus and the heroic efforts of American troops have transformed Iraq from a nation on the verge of civil war into one filled with potential for freedom and democracy.

Unfortunately, the success story authored by our troops has garnered little attention in the media as the fourth estate largely took a six month vacation from covering Iraq. As I learned in January during a trip to Iraq, troops feel the American public is not receiving a full perspective about positive developments in Iraq, and many have started their own blogs or websites to communicate their point of view.

So this week as we evaluate our future involvement in Iraq, it is important that the American public receives a full picture of what is going on in Iraq.

I entered Congress in January 2007 in the middle of a war that was not going well. Our troops were fighting an asymmetrical war with traditional, outdated tactics and folks like Senator John McCain were rightly calling for a new strategy.

Two options existed: surrender or, as many military experts demanded, employ a surge. Despite the objections of some, Congress allowed our military leaders to do what they have been trained to do, and a new strategy was implemented. Today, America and Iraq are both reaping the benefits of the surge.

According to a recent study, terrorist activities killed 1,087 in Baghdad during February 2007, but that number dropped to 178 in January 2008. Iraq is rebuilding its infrastructure and communities are blossoming again.

More importantly, Iraqi military forces are fighting alongside American troops against terrorists in Iraq, and as we saw recently in Basra, Iraqis are increasingly taking more responsibility for their own security. The Iraqi army is stepping up and now suffers three times the casualties suffered by U.S. troops. Overall, causalities have declined.

I am confident General Petraeus has Iraq moving in the right direction. He told me personally that a carbon copy of America should not be expected in Iraq, nor is it necessary, but Iraq must continue to become more independent and accept greater responsibility. This is exactly what Americans should expect to hear from our leadership in Iraq.  Iraq has the potential to be a stable democratic state and U.S. ally, and most importantly, a state that does not harbor terrorists.

Many in Michigan are tired of the cost of the Iraq War, and I understand these frustrations. Though undeniable progress is being made in Iraq, an immediate withdrawal of American troops would be a significant setback in our comprehensive battle against terrorists.

We need to continue recent progress and maintain order and peace in Iraq so terrorists do not take control. The last thing the world needs is another terrorist-sponsoring country aiming destructive powers at free nations.

Just as we are driving terrorists out of Afghanistan and monitoring terrorist cells worldwide, American and Iraqi forces must continue working in Iraq against foreign-backed terrorists, and fighting these terrorists in Iraq makes Americans safer here in the United States.