Governor Travels To Iraq And Afghanistan

Wednesday, March 7th 2007, 10:19 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry got to see up close just how dangerous it is in Iraq. He wrapped a classified trip to Iraq on Wednesday and is now in Afghanistan. The governor talked with the News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage via satellite from Kuwait before he headed to Afghanistan.

The U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense say they wanted Governor Henry to see first-hand the sacrifices Oklahomans are making. The governor went to Iraq more than a year ago, but says he had barely any time to spend with Oklahoma troops. This time, he spent the night at an American camp in northern Iraq and talked with Oklahoma National Guardsmen at breakfast. Those Guardsmen had just spent the night guarding supply convoys.

The governor says the soldiers asked about basketball and their loved ones at home. But Henry says what they needed to hear the most is that America still supports them. "The commanding officers I met on base today said, 'those Oklahoma troops are just the most dedicated at Camp Mosul.' So we should all be very proud of the job they're doing, the work they're doing defending our country, fighting the war on terrorism."

KOTV.com Exclusive
You can see the entire interview with Governor Brad Henry by clicking here.

Governor Brad Henry is now in Afghanistan on an unannounced trip with the governors of Minnesota and Arizona.

The three have met with President Hamid Karzai in the presidential palace in Kabul and Henry is expected to also meet with Oklahoma soldiers.

The U.S. Embassy says it can't say when or where the meetings with troops will take place because of security reasons.