Press Release - Dec 12, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2007
CONTACT
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us
Capt. Robert Bell, 303.902.3925, Rob.Bell1@us.army.mil
GOV. RITTER VISITS COLORADO TROOPS IN IRAQ
Gov. Bill Ritter is in Iraq visiting Colorado National Guard troops at the invitation of the U.S. Departments of Defense and State, part of a fact-finding program that allows governors to experience conditions in the Middle East first-hand.
Gov. Ritter toured and stayed overnight in the International Zone in Baghdad, and also met with troops from the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which includes more than 200 Colorado National Guard members, and the 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, which also includes Colorado National Guard members. Gov. Ritter visited several military installations, neighborhoods and a local hospital in Iraq.
"These men and women are serving under very difficult conditions," Gov. Ritter said during a conference call from Kuwait this morning. "But their morale is high and they seem very heartened that I'm here on their turf, on their territory, to gain a better understanding of the work they are doing. It's extremely helpful for me, as the commander in chief of the Colorado National Guard, to be on the ground to see the conditions they are serving in and how they are making a difference."
More than 600 Colorado Air and Army National Guard troops are currently deployed to Iraq, Kuwait and other areas in the Middle East, more than at any other time in recent Colorado history. Colorado Air National Guard members have logged more than 5,000 combat hours and flown more than 500 consecutive combat sorties without failure since 2003.
In addition to the Colorado Guard troops, Gov. Ritter met with and praised the work of Colorado active-duty personnel and reservists from all branches of the military. He also said that upon his arrival in Iraq he was met by reservists state Sen. Steve Ward and state Rep. Joe Rice.
"The troops I've talked to wanted to convey their love and best holiday wishes to their families and everyone back home," Gov. Ritter said. "They also wanted to express their gratitude for everything their neighbors are doing to help their spouses, from shoveling sidewalks to helping with chores around the house."
Gov. Ritter is traveling with South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds and Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri. The trip included meetings with U.S. military and diplomatic officials such as Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq; Maj. Gen. Dennis Hardy of U.S. Central Command; Patricia Butenis, the U.S. Embassy's chief of mission in Iraq; the deputy prime minister of Iraq; and local government leaders as well. Butenis hosted a dinner for the governors at her residence.
"We really appreciate Gov. Ritter taking the opportunity to visit our deployed Colorado National Guard men and women," said Colorado National Guard commander Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards. "Although being deployed over the holidays is difficult for our Guard men and women, I know it means a lot to them for their governor to make the effort to visit them in theater. His visit will certainly be a special memory for our Colorado Guard members."
Gov. Ritter began the week on Monday with briefings by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington. More than 30 U.S. governors have visited Iraq as part of the Department of Defense program.
NOTE TO MEDIA:Photos of Gov. Ritter in Iraq are available upon request and will be posted in the Photo Gallery section of the Governor's website, www.colorado.gov/governor