Governor Brad Henry visits troops in Iraq

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry visited Oklahoma soldiers in Iraq Friday as part of a tour of the war-torn region, Henry's office said.<br/><br/>Henry and Colorado Gov. Bill Owens traveled to

Friday, February 24th 2006, 1:34 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry visited Oklahoma soldiers in Iraq Friday as part of a tour of the war-torn region, Henry's office said.

Henry and Colorado Gov. Bill Owens traveled to Iraq at the invitation of the Department of Defense and the State Department to get a firsthand look at conditions where troops from the state are serving.

"They have an awesome responsibility on their shoulders, and with it come obvious challenges and hardships," the governor said. "Our soldiers are true American heroes, and we pray for them every day."

Henry attended classified briefings at the Pentagon and met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld earlier this week.

He landed in Kuwait on Thursday and had dinner with airmen at Camp Arifijhan. On Friday, he met with Oklahoma troops, including members of Oklahoma's 158th Field Artillery, stationed at Camp Victory and in Baghdad.

Henry also visited Ramadi, where he witnessed a demonstration of equipment used to clear roadways of potential explosive devices as well as a "checkpoint" demonstration by Iraqi security forces.

Both governors received a briefing from Gen. George Casey, commander of the multinational forces in Iraq.

Henry plans to make a brief stop in Kuwait and then return to Washington on Saturday.

Henry's office said the trip was not announced in advance at the request of the Department of Defense.