Afghanistan – Governor Tim Pawlenty continued his trip in the Middle East, traveling today to Afghanistan to visit troops and military leaders.

Following lunch with troops at Camp Phoenix, Governor Pawlenty traveled to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Headquarters to meet with Commanding General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry.

The Governor then flew to Bagram Air Base on a C-130 from the 109th Airlift Squadron of the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota Air Guard based in Minneapolis. The 133rd Airlift Wing is a provider of intra-theater transportation of personnel, cargo and critical equipment. The delegation visited wounded soldiers at Bagram Hospital.

Governor Pawlenty concluded the day’s activities by having dinner at Bagram Air Base with Minnesota soldiers from the Fort Snelling-based 372nd Engineering Brigade and the 133rd Airlift Wing from Minneapolis.

The Minnesota National Guard has had a significant presence throughout the Middle East since 2003. More than 20,000 Minnesota National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and –Airmen have deployed in a variety of combat and combat service support operations. The Department of Defense announced in July the alert of approximately 2,700 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers of the Bloomington-based 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division to prepare for a deployment in support of Operation New Dawn throughout Kuwait and Iraq in 2011-12. More than 500 Minnesota National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and –Airmen are currently deployed worldwide.

“We are grateful for the sacrifice, commitment, and patriotism of the brave men and women serving in Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East,” Governor Pawlenty said. “It is an honor to look them in the eye and say ‘thank you’ for their service on behalf of all Minnesotans.”

Afghanistan is the third country visited by Governor Pawlenty during his trip to the Middle East. Following a stop in Iraq earlier this week, he traveled to Joint Base Balad in Iraq yesterday to tour the Combat Support Hospital and Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) where seriously wounded service members are treated before they are flown to the medical center in Landsthul, Germany. Governor Pawlenty also met with LTG William Webster, Commanding General Army Component of Central Command at Camp Arifjan.

Governor Pawlenty was joined on the trip by Governor Jim Douglas (R-Vermont), Governor Jay Nixon (D-Missouri), Governor Michael Rounds (R-South Dakota), and Governor Deval Patrick (D-Massachusetts). The Governors were invited to participate in the delegation by the U.S. Department of Defense.