Texas Governor Rick Perry visits Iraq

Associated Press ^ | 1/24/06

[Cat loving Texan]

Governor Perry visits Iraq

11:50 AM CST on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Associated Press

Texas Governor Rick Perry has traveled to Iraq with three other governors in a surprise visit to troops from their states.

Perry joined Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal.

A Huckabee spokeswoman says the four all left for Iraq on Sunday after receiving classified briefings at the Pentagon.

Perry and Huckabee are Republicans. Doyle and Reudenthal are Democrats.

Huckabee spokeswoman Alice Stewart says the Pentagon arrange the trip to raise the governors' awareness of the global war on terror.

Texas officials were planning a briefing later in the day Tuesday.

A Perry spokeswoman says the trip couldn't be discussed earlier because of security reasons.

The governors' itinerary included a stop at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and stops in parts of Iraq with briefings by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey.

[Kewlhand`tek]

I wonder why Huck didnt go to Iraq when 3/4 of his guard was there. I dont think more than 400 arkansas national guard members are there now

[mnehring]

The rural communities are supporting it. Highway programs are one of the few ways governments can actually boost enterprise outside of tax benefits. In the case of at least the east part of the corridor, most of this will be on the current 59/259 improvement plan, and will have very little impact on anyone who doesn't live right on the current highways, and those people would be effected by the improvement program anyway.
From my understanding, this is similar to what we're seeing in the west part of the corridor as well.
Of course, the Farm Bureau has raised concerns that there may be an issue with the 1,200 foot 'right of way' possibly interfering with farms, however, this only results in 146 acres per road mile, very little difference over the right of way variance (of about 135 acres per road mile) on the current roadways the corridor will be built on.

Right now, no farms have been 'split' as the fear. Those battles should be fought individually if they even come up.

Perry has even proposed taking a lot of the burden off taxpayers by shifting the corridor to a toll situation. I can see where many don't like this, but they will pay through either taxes or another means. At least with tolls, much of the burden will go to truckers (mostly from Mexico and out of state.)

[BJClinton]

The rural communities are supporting it.

No one I know in Lee County is supporting this. The exit ramps will not bring extra business into the county. Basically, this monster will slice the county in half, destroying numerous farms and ranches in the process, without much, if any, economic benefit.

[penelopesire]

"I must admit, that until this year, Perry didn't do much for me, but I've come around on him, and I will gladly vote for his re-election."

Dittos

[penelopesire]

Why do you have a problem with him visiting Iraq? I don't get it.

[Cat loving Texan]

Just seems like a lot of security and military resources are being used for governors' photo ops. If it helps morale then great, but I think that's the purpose of the USO. I'm all for him welcoming the troops home when they return. That seems more appropriate for a governor.

[penelopesire]

well..poppycock. Many politicians have been to Iraq. Texas has alot of troops in Iraq and clearly some of them get a kick out of having dinner and being listened to by their elected reps. Find something else to set your hair on fire over..(grin) Chill on this one.

[Cat loving Texan]

Believe me I'm not pulling my hair out on this. Just seemed a little strange for a state leader with no impact on the Iraq policy would be there.

[penelopesire]

It isn't all about policy..sometimes it is about troop morale. LOL..why was Kerry in Pakistan last week? He has no impact on foreign policy....LMAO!!

[The South Texan]

"What the hell is the Texas Governor doing visiting Iraq?"

Is that you, Mrs. Keeton Rylander Strayhon?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Believe me I'm not pulling my hair out on this. Just seemed a little strange for a state leader with no impact on the Iraq policy would be there.

Your trying to construct a faulty argument. His trip wasn't to shape foreign policy. Governors aren't elected to "shape foreign policy", that's part of the President's responsibility as leader of the United States. Governor Perry realizes that, you obviously don't. His trip was to boost morale of troops who happend to be from his state.

The fact that he meets and greets troops as they come home to Texas speaks volumes of the guy. I cannot say that for one single Democrat in this country, and Murtha and Moran come to mind.

They go out of their way to cut the President down, go to foreign lands to see things for themselves first hand, but they don't bother to welcome their own constituents home, and they have the audacity to say they support the troops.

[WestTexasWend]

Love him or hate him, Perry and the State of TX ran rings around everyone else during Katrina and Rita, so he's entitled to make this trip...moreso than the other governors, IMO.