WASHINGTON - Despite a daily barrage of terrorist attacks in Iraq, Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., and Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., are optimistic about the Middle Eastern country's future.

"They are going to be in a position pretty soon to do things for themselves if we get this terrorism thing out of their hair," said Thomas, who, along with Burns and three other Republican senators, spent two days in Iraq last week.

Both of the Western senators offered praise for the administration's plans to rebuild Iraq and the Iraqis efforts to establish a democratic government.

"They are rasslin' with this thing," Burns said. "They are dealing with this Islam thing. These people have courage you won't believe. They are going to have a constitution. It may not be something you or I would put our John Hancock on, but it'll be a good constitution."

Thomas, who has criticized news reports for focusing on Iraq's problems, painted a relatively rosy picture of the situation.

"I was surprised just at the look of things," Thomas said. "People on the streets, the cars, the shops, were going pretty much as you imagine they would in normal times."

The senior senator from Wyoming noted that despite appearances, the lack of security means that the situation is not "normal." Burns, Thomas and the other senators on the trip noted that lack of stability in post war Iraq has led to an influx of terrorists.

"Security is the biggest problem now," Thomas said. "It has everybody concerned. There has been a movement of cuckoos from all over into Iraq and they are able to do what they wish to do."

Burns shares Thomas' concern about the influx of terrorists, but not his optimistic assessment of daily life in Iraq. He was particularly surprised at the poor condition of everything but the palaces and roads.

"We visited a power plant that would not operate in the United States," Burns said. "(Occupational Safety and Health Administration) would shut it down in a New York minute. Saddam Hussein did not spend one red cent on maintaining something after it was built."

The Bush administration is aiming not to follow in the deposed Iraqi leader's footsteps. This week the Senate is debating President Bush's request for $87 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the rebuilding of Iraq. The president's proposal includes $65.6 billion in military funding and $20.3 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq.

Burns and Thomas said they oppose some lawmakers' efforts to have the $20.3 billion be a loan that Iraq must pay back, rather than simply a grant. Administration officials are calling on Congress to pass a bill in which the money is a grant.

"It's a lot of money but it's not nearly as much as we would have to spend later if we were to pick up and leave," Burns said. "If we did that there would be a blood bath and they would have no hope. Money is a tool for doing good."

Thomas said that providing a large amount of money is the best way to stabilize Iraq and get U.S. soldiers home.

"They already owe a bunch of money and we don't want to increase that," Thomas said. "The way we are going to hold down the cost and get our troops out of there is to get those people on their feet."

Both of the Western Republicans said they were not concerned that the cost of fighting the war or rebuilding Iraq would limit the amount that can be spent on domestic programs or increase the United States' deficit.

Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., who voted against the war and was one of the five senators on the trip, plans to support providing the money, but is not happy about the situation.

"We have no choice; we're there," Chafee said. "It's just going into the ever-increasing deficit, which will come back to haunt us. The administration has to have success in Iraq and one of their strategies is just to carpet bomb the place with money."

Both Burns and Thomas say capturing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would go a long way toward creating stability in Iraq.

"We're not going to turn a corner until we find Saddam Hussein," Burns said. "Reported sightings give his loyalists hope."

Thomas added that although capturing Hussein would be helpful, it is not necessary in order for the war to be a success.

"I don't think it's necessary, but it would take away the ambition of a lot of these groups," Thomas said. "If we can get Saddam a lot of these terrorist groups will give up the ship."

Burns and Thomas said that although U.S. soldiers are dying on a nearly daily basis, the Montana and Wyoming troops they met are in good spirits.

"Most of them were 18 or 19 years old," said Thomas, a former Marine captain. "I was impressed. They said, 'This is our job. This is what we came here to do and we are making progress. We are going to do it.' There was no complaining about it. They were talking about getting the job done."

Burns, who also is a former Marine, said one soldier complained to him.

"From one, only one," Burns said. "He was complaining that it was time for him to go home. I told him that when I was in the Marines I said I wanted to go home and they said, 'Conrad you can't.'"