By FREDERIC J. FROMMER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Governors just back from a trip to Iraq stressed the need to "stay the course" after meeting with President Bush at the White House Friday.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, said the issue came up in conversations with Iraqis as the six governors traveled the country.
"We had a number of people ask us, 'Will you continue to stand with us as we go to this transition to freedom and democracy?' " Pawlenty told reporters. "It's very important that the United States send a signal that we're going to stay the course and finish the job."
New York Gov. George Pataki, also a Republican, agreed. "If we win in Iraq, then we will have broken the back of terrorism," Pataki said.
The trip was organized by the White House, and the governors said they were selected to get a bipartisan group and for regional balance.
Terrorism is "alive and well" in Iraq, said Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, one of two Democrats on the trip. "They (terrorists) are operating in what is essentially a free country, so they have the freedom to move."
At one point, tracer fire was spotted near the governors' plane during a takeoff, causing the plane to change direction, but there was no indication that it was targeted.
Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, a Republican, deflected questions about whether the failure to find weapons of mass destruction undermined the justification for the war.
"One of the Iraqis that I spoke to made this point: In person, Saddam Hussein is a weapon of mass destruction," Kempthorne said. "As we have looked for the weapons of mass destruction, what we have particularly found are mass graves," he said, referring to the discovery of remains of Saddam's political enemies.
Pawlenty said Bush asked the governors to describe the daily life of Baghdad.
"He wanted to know, what's the feel? Are people shopping? Are they in the streets? What's the attitude of the Iraqis? How are they feeling about our efforts here?" Pawlenty said.
"It's remarkable to see the activity in the streets of Baghdad, the commerce, the increase in traffic, people who are returning to engage in employment or economic activities," he said.
The visit to Iraq, which also included Republican Linda Lingle of Hawaii and Democrat Ted Kulongoski of Oregon, marked the first time governors had visited the country since the United States toppled Saddam Hussein. Members of Congress visit Baghdad regularly.
Bush was joined by Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, and White House chief of staff Andy Card.