Nixon, Quinn take weekend trip to Iraq
Nixon walks with Brig. Gen. Gerald Lang at a base in Iraq
Gov. Jay Nixon and his Illinois counterpart joined three other governors who spent the weekend visiting military commanders and troops in Iraq and Kuwait.
Nixon announced his whereabouts in an unusual Sunday conference call with reporters. Speaking from Kuwait, he said the trip, which began with a briefing at the Pentagon on Friday, was organized by the Department of Defense.
He said the touring group included Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, as well as the governors of Texas, Minnesota and Nevada.
Nixon said his purpose was to “interact face to face with these courageous Missourians” in the National Guard, the Reserves and the regular military.
“They are doing a tremendous job under difficult conditions,” including wind, sand and 119 degree heat, he said. “These folks are stunningly committed.”
Nixon said he spent Saturday night in Baghdad and met with many Missourians serving in Iraq. He said U.S. forces are making “significant, real progress” in their mission and are “focused and upbeat.”
Their main concerns involved the high unemployment rate back home and transitioning back into civilian life, Nixon said.
Nixon said that under Defense Department rules, he could not disclose where he was going next or when he would return to Missouri.
But he said technology keeps him in constant touch with his staff, so he did not hand off the reins of government to Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
Former Gov. John Ashcroft started that practice, keeping control rather than ceding power to then-Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan. A court decision supported Ashcroft’s position that with modern technology, a governor can govern from afar.
This is not about a political photo op…it’s about Nixon doing his job, the same way Governor Blunt did his when he visited the troops during his tenure. Nixon serves as Commander in Chief of the Missouri National Guard. Visiting those NG members serving their country in Iraq not only gives the troops much needed attention and a brief moment of remembrance of their home state, but also gives Nixon a first-hand view of the conditions and actions going on over there. I’m no fan of Nixon, but I don’t believe that anyone should be criticizing him for this. As far as cost to taxpayers, I’d much rather foot the bill for a flight to Iraq than pay to send him to a sporting event. The return on this investment is much higher.
There were some good comments in response to my comment. I am reconsidering my position.
When are they coming home? They are not coming home, they will just be going to Afghanistan. Iraq never should have been but being in the military calls for duty such as Afghanistan and I suggest those who oppose the duties of being in the military not sign up for another tour of duty. There are many who do not mind serving all the demands of being in the military and even then, the are in need of much support.
Please, do not do sign up for another tour CAdams. Military life, you are not cut out for and neither am I or many others. I admit I do not see myself as being able to handle it not to mention the fact that being the aggressor as was the war with Iraq, it is in total conflict with my religious beliefs.
My point is this. Before the election, all I heard from people who opposed Bush is that “War is not the answer.” “Support the troops by bringing them home.” I never heard a protester once say “Bring the troops home so that they can go fight in Afghanistan.” It was “bring the troops home.” Then all of a sudden leading up to the election, this new president and his party started talking about shifting the war to Afghanistan. What did their supporters do? Well they fell in lockstep saying…”Yeah, get the troops out of Iraq so that they can fight a JUST war in Afghanistan.” Well news flash, we were already in Afghanistan. So what happened to bringing the troops home? What happened to “War is not the answer”? Where are the picket lines of protest now? “Just War” my rear-end. You people don’t support the troops coming home unless your opposition is in the White House.
I plan on staying in. I’m just trying to show how much hypocrisy is out there, that’s all. There is no change.