Blunt says his Iraq trip is good for morale

Gov. Matt Blunt visited Missouri National Guard troops in Iraq on Wednesday and came away impressed with their resolve in the war on terror.

"It certainly is inspiring to me," Blunt said in a telephone conference call with reporters in Missouri during his tour of military facilities in Iraq.

"They are very proud of what the guard is doing," Blunt said. "They really are filling vital roles that make the war possible."

The governor defended his trip as good for morale. "It's good to get over and tell them they're appreciated. They believe perhaps the national media doesn't portray the war in the best light," said Blunt.

It's important, he said, to let the soldiers know that Missourians support the war on terror.

"I was really overwhelmed by the number of people who said it was meaningful to them that governors were making the trips," Blunt said.

Blunt was joined by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

The U.S. Defense and State departments sponsored the trip. No state tax money was used, officials said.

About half of the nation's governors have made similar trips.

Some 1,300 Missouri Army and Air National Guard troops are stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Blunt's trip, which began in Washington on Monday, has included stops in Kuwait as well as Baghdad in Iraq.

The governors met with military and diplomatic leaders in Baghdad on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They planned to stop in Pakistan Thursday en route to Afghanistan where a meeting with President Hamid Karzai was scheduled.

During his visit to Iraq, Blunt observed the training of about 40 members of the Iraqi security force. He said such training shows that Iraq increasingly can handle security in the war-torn land.

Blunt said he wasn't in any personal danger on the trip. All three governors have been escorted under tight security.

Blunt said Guardsmen told him that they appreciate all the e-mails from friends and family, but would like regular mail too.

"If there is one thing they would like, it is a little more written, traditional mail," he said.

Blunt is scheduled to return home on Saturday.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is serving as acting governor. Kinder hasn't signed any bills and has no official duties planned, Blunt spokesman Spence Jackson said.

At the request of the Defense Department, the trip wasn't publicized in advance.

Advance publicity about visits by high-profile delegations can inspire violence by Iraqi insurgent groups, Pentagon officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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