Gov. Gregoire in Iraq visiting troops

Gov. Gregoire in Iraq visiting troops

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Story Published: Jan 6, 2009 at 8:19 AM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 6, 2009 at 11:06 PM PDT

By Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - Mystery solved: Gov. Chris Gregoire is in Iraq this week meeting with National Guard troops from Washington state.

Gregoire left Sunday for Washington, D.C., where she had a briefing with Pentagon officials, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, before flying to Iraq on Monday with fellow Govs. Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Rick Perry of Texas.

Gregoire's whereabouts came into question Monday afternoon, when her office abruptly canceled a speech set for Tuesday at a pre-legislative session forum sponsored by The Associated Press. Her office refused to say where she was, other than out of state, sparking rumors that she was up for an appointment in the Obama administration. Washington's Legislature begins its new session next Monday.

Gregoire said that for security reasons, State and Defense Department officials had asked her not to disclose her trip. She told reporters in a conference call from Baghdad that she had only just learned of the speculation her absence prompted, and that she ran for re-election last year because she wanted to be governor: "I made it clear early on I would not accept an appointment."

"I'm sorry to say I've been on a flight since Sunday, and I'm really not aware of any inconvenience or problems this has caused," she added.

In Iraq, Gregoire and the delegation met with U.S. service members, senior military and public officials. She had lunch with one National Guard unit, had dinner with another, and held a town-hall-style meeting with a third, she said.

"Every one of these individuals, I want you to know, could not be more proud," she said. "The morale is high."

She said her trip was prompted by a promise she made at a farewell ceremony for the Washington Army National Guard troops in Yakima as they left for Iraq in August.

There are about 2,500 members of the Washington National Guard serving in Iraq - 2,400 of them with the 81st Brigade, expected to return in July.

Gregoire is due back in the state Thursday night.

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