[GeronL]

Ellison? Issa?

[callisto]

The junior United States Senator from Illinois from January 2005 until November 2008?

The trip to Iraq and Afghanistan was as part of an official congressional delegation (CODEL) that included Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE). In 2006, Obama conducted a controversial solo CODEL to Africa.

CODELs are supposed to be bi-partisan and official. Hence the need to include Hagel, a staunch critic of the Iraq War who is Republican and serves on the Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees.

http://uspolitics.about.com/b/2008/07/25/obamas-globetrotting-campaign-funded-or-senate-junket.htm