You have to visit Iraq to know how to fight a war there.

The Republican hawks worship Churchill. Did he have to visit occupied Europe to fight Hitler?

Did Reagan have to visit the Soviet union to fight the cold war?

Did Bush learn the proper approach to Iraq when he went there and handed out turkey legs?

Did McCain learn from his photo op in the market place?

Obama has talked to Crocker and Petraus in this country and there are many other sources of information.