During his visit to Iraq, Sen. John Barrasso delivered a message on behalf of his Wyoming constituents to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

"I specifically told him I was the newest United States senator, I was from Wyoming," Barrasso recalled Saturday afternoon, a few hours after arriving in Casper. "We are very direct. We are rugged individualists and we like to have things done quickly. And that I wanted him to know that the people of Wyoming were expecting quicker progress politically in Iraq."

Barrasso's meeting with al-Maliki was part of his two-day visit to Iraq that gave Wyoming's junior senator an opportunity to thank soldiers for their service.

"The brave sons and daughters of Wyoming are serving us well and their efforts are bringing significant military success," he said.

Barrasso traveled to Iraq with a delegation of four other U.S. senators and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. On Thursday and Friday, Barrasso shared three Thanksgiving meals with troops, met with Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, visited a detention center and watched the training of Iraqi police.

He also visited with Wyoming soldiers and gave them quarters, hats and patches from the Cowboy State.

After speaking with the troops, Barrasso said the United States has "absolutely" achieved a significant military success since the troop surge began earlier this year.

"There has been measurable progress," he said, pointing to figures that show the number of injuries and deaths of Iraqi citizens and U.S. soldiers on the decline.

Barrasso said his primary reason for visiting Iraq was to thank the troops.

"They are a long way from home on Thanksgiving," he said. "I wanted to be there with them."

The senator also wanted to know whether the troops are getting the supplies and equipment they need. The soldiers he spoke with told Barrasso they were being taken care of.

"For those who have had two or three tours of duty, they just say what they're supplied with now is a significant improvement," the senator said.

Barrasso and the senatorial delegation, including presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left for Iraq from Andrews Air Force Base on Wednesday morning. They flew to Ireland and then Kuwait, before boarding a military aircraft for the trip to Baghdad.

The senators arrived in Iraq on Thursday morning. During the trip, they visited Baghdad, Kirkuk in the north and al-Anbar province in the west.

Barrasso said the trip allowed him to hear what is happening in Iraq from men and women in the field.

"When I talk to these soldiers from Wyoming, they say they are making progress every day, and it was because of the surge," he said.

As for the ability of the Iraqis to establish a successful government, Barrasso said "there are clearly challenges to setting up a political system that satisfies all of the people there."

Barrasso said he doesn't have an answer to how long the United States will need to remain in Iraq.

"I don't favor a specific timetable," he said. "I don't think you ever tell your enemy what your plans are."

Barrasso said he'd like to return to Iraq at some point to see how things have changed.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.