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Manchin put focus on troops: Iraq policy was not issue he says(Charleston Gazette, The (WV) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Apr. 21--Commenting Thursday on his six-day tour of Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, Gov. Joe Manchin preferred to focus on troop morale and less on the bigger policy questions of going to war in the Middle East. "The only thing I know is, we're there now, and I want these troops to know I support them," Manchin said, discussing his surprise tour with three other governors, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. The Department of Defense-sponsored tour ended with a White House briefing and Rose Garden appearance with President Bush on Wednesday, where Manchin said the focus again was on the troops. "I didn't get into policy, nor did he ask," Manchin said of his meeting with the president. Manchin said he had first inquired about making a trip to Iraq last summer, when Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard, was conducting hearings on whether to move the 130th Air National Guard unit out of Charleston's Yeager Airport. Manchin got word he would be making the tour as part of a year-old Pentagon program to bring governors to troops in the Middle East, but had to keep the trip secret. "That's the way it had to be. I didn't know who was going with me -- they didn't tell me," he said. Manchin said he was simply told to report to the Pentagon at 8:45 Thursday morning. In Afghanistan, Manchin said he was moved to see children going to classes, particularly girls, who were prohibited from attending school under the Taliban regime. "I got the sense in Afghanistan that they really want freedom and democracy, and they're willing to fight for it, to die for it," he said. Manchin said he got less of a sense that the Iraqi people are committed to democracy, but said he had less opportunity to interact with people there. "It was so secured, I wasn't able to get out on the streets there," he said. "I think Iraq has some tremendous challenges, and I think the next three to six months will tell if they have the political will to do it." Manchin stressed repeatedly that he did not hear one critical comment or complaint from any of the troops he met on the tour. "They know they're in a very dangerous situation, but they know they have a job to do, and they're dedicated to get the job done," he said. Manchin is leaving the state again Saturday, this time on less hazardous duty -- a state trade mission to Germany and Italy. To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, use e-mail or call 348-1220. |