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Jeb Bush surprises troops in Iraq

Also on the trip to the Middle East were governors Thomas Vilsack of Iowa, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.+

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published April 15, 2006

Governor Jeb Bush slipped away from Tallahassee this week to travel to the Middle East, where he and three other governors visited troops in Kuwait on Friday then went on Bagdad, where he had breakfast with troops today, then went to Balad to tour a hospital.

"I'm extremely proud of all the men and women serving our country to protect our freedoms and democracy," Bush said in a news release from the governor's office. "The spirit and confidence among the troops is high and the progress that's been made in Iraq is undeniable. It is an honor to be able to express Florida's gratitude for the service of these great men and women."

Bush's schedule was kept confidential for security reasons, officials said. Also on the trip are Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin.

The governors arrived in Kuwait on Friday where he toured an up armor facility and had dinner with troops.

Bush was invited by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He left on Thursday, and had classified briefings at the Pentagon and a meeting with Secretary Rumsfeld. Bush is part of the seventh delegation of governors to visit our troops in the Middle East.

In Kuwait they toured the Army Materiel Command's Forward Repair Facility, where soldiers from the Army's 37th Transportation Group, who drive the vehicles throughout the dangerous roads of Iraq, shared their experiences and answered questions.

The governors also learned about the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, or HEAT, a new safety training tool designed to teach troops how to survive a vehicle roll-over.

[Last modified April 15, 2006, 16:33:03]