Shuler Sri Lanka Trip Drawing Rave Reviews

In my other post about Heath Shuler’s trip to Sri Lanka, the praise he drew was primarily from pro-government sources in country. To add to the chorus comes Jim Luce at Huffington Post:

The American Congressman stated boldly, “I would like to congratulate the government of Sri Lanka in their victory over terrorism. We are seeing peace today for the first time in 26 years”

I could not have been more elated. It was the first time I have heard an American elected official seem to understand what has transpired here in Sri Lanka. As the only American journalist in the room, I was unsure if those gathered grasped the significance of his statement.
[...]
With that, Heath Shuler, U.S. Congressman from North Carolina — a thought leader and global citizen — ended his strong remarks in favor of the Sri Lankan government’s efforts to move forward into a future of diversity and prosperity.

I warmly congratulated him for having been the first American political leader I have heard that actually understood what had transpired — and most importantly — what needs to transpire, here in Sri Lanka.

Shuler the statesman?