June 21, 2006
Wednesday

Alaska Governor Frank H. Murkowski today returned to Kuwait from a day-long visit into Iraq, during which he had lunch with approximately 60 troops from the 207th Aviation Battalion of the Alaska Army Guard from Ft. Richardson and the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Ft. Wainwright. The troops are currently serving at a coalition base at Tall Afar, near Mosul, Iraq.

"It was very heartwarming to visit with Alaskans in Iraq," Murkowski said. "These young people are engaged in a dangerous mission in a very hot, dry and dusty part of the world, not exactly what they are used to in Alaska. But they are doing an excellent job, and I was proud to be able to spend some time with them."

The governor also had lunch with Alaska troops serving in Kuwait on Tuesday, before going into Iraq. He said the best thing Alaskans can do for troops serving in the Middle East is to "show them we support them at every opportunity."

The governor received logistical and strategic briefings from Coalition officials in Bagdad, consulted with Iraq Vice President Tariq Al-Hashmy and was hosted by military and U.S. embassy officials at a dinner held in a former Saddam Hussein palace. Governor Murkowski was joined by two other governors on the inspection arranged by the U.S. departments of State and Defense, North Dakota Governor John Hoeven and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. Before departing for the Middle East from Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. the governors met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Source of News & Photograph:

Office of the Governor
www.gov.state.ak.us

 

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