Gov. Jan Brewer, in her first trip to Afghanistan, said the war in real life is “unimaginable.''
“As we sit over there on the mainland and see and hear everything going on, it's really different over here,'' said Brewer in a phone interview Wednesday from the war zone. It was Brewer's first trip there, organized by the Department of Defense, to meet with military leaders and soldiers.
Brewer, who was briefed ahead of time by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, said she came to no conclusions in the ongoing debate about how quickly U.S. troops should be withdrawn from the country.
The administration has said it intends to have all combat troops gone by the end of 2014, though an undetermined number of soldiers will remain to work with the Afghan military. But even Panetta said at a press conference last week that there also will be a continuing need to combat terrorism, what with continued al-Qaida strength in the country.
That did not stop the Senate, as part of a defense bill, from tacking on a non-binding resolution urging faster withdrawal.
Brewer said she is deferring to the decisions of military leaders.
“Whatever their judgment is, is something I would have no reservations with,'' the governor said, saying she's “not a warrior, if you will, or someone that understands all the implications of everything.''
The governor conceded that before she went overseas she was of the opinion that the planned withdrawal was too early.
“Today I don't feel that way,'' she said.
“I feel very, very confident that they are doing what they believe is right,'' Brewer explained. “And they are doing it the right way.''
Brewer said what surprised her was how different reality is than the war as seen on TV.
“It was a little bit surreal of course,'' she said of landing in the middle of the conflict.
“It's the real deal,'' the governor continued. “It's not make-believe.''
Brewer said she was impressed.
“You tend to forget that everybody's carrying real guns and they're putting their life on the line,'' she said. The governor said it's one thing to know that, intellectually.
“But if you actually see it, it's very, very different,'' she said.
Amid all that, Brewer said she had not focused on the potential danger to herself of being in a war zone.
“I'm so happy and so honored to come, I don't think the reality set in with me until I got there,'' she said.
“Then I realized it was the real deal,'' Brewer continued. “We're flying helicopters, we have guns hanging out the windows.''
Then there are the barriers and being constantly surrounded by soldiers assigned to protect her.
“You know then it's very, very serious,'' she said.
The governor said she would not describe her feeling as being afraid, saying she has confidence in the soldiers.
“But yes,'' she said, knowing that people around her were putting themselves in harm's way. And that, she said, made her aware of the risks. “I followed the rules, I did what I was told.''
Brewer's trip had been off the record following general Department of Defense policy to not publicize ahead of time, for security reasons, when dignitaries visit war zones. While she did a phone interview Wednesday while still in Afghanistan, news stories about her location were embargoed until 4 a.m. Thursday, the time she was scheduled to be out of that country.
Before going overseas, Brewer made a stop at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Here, the governor said the reality of the situation differed from her prior perception.
“That is, in so many ways, so heartbreaking because so many are injured dramatically, something that we hear about, only might see on TV,'' she said.
“But to be there and to talk to them and to see their spirit is so, so encouraging that they are willing to give up what they have given up,'' Brewer continued. “And then to come back and be strong and be faithful still to us.''
Brewer said she was impressed by the kind of equipment available to treat and rehabilitate the injured soldiers.
She even got a chance to spend some time with Army combat medic Mason Steill, the grandson of a Maricopa County employee, who was wounded in Afghanistan. All that, Brewer said, left an impression.
“You know, what a price they have paid, what a price America has paid,'' she said. “We have suffered great casualties and great injuries and must never, ever, in my opinion, ever forget it.''
Bingo6 posted at 9:53 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
That must have scared the you know what out of our troops to see the wicked witch of the west approaching.
Dale Whiting posted at 10:20 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
Bingo6,
So now we understand why Jan hails from Arizona. Water will dissolve her!
Bluepoet posted at 10:37 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
I see she's still pointing her finger at something...must the media always take that picture of her, or does she just always have her finger out?!
So, who's going to do the obligatory carping about how she's wasting our tax dollars, by flying around and being guarded, for no real reason? And, then who's going to say that it's just as well, since she was out of Arizona, for a while, and we should just enjoy that...?
Wait, I guess that would be me...!
informedVoter posted at 10:50 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
So how much did this unnecessary trip cost us Arizona tax payers? For a governor who constantly talks about spending cuts this type of stunt just adds to the hypocrisy of the GOP.
Slabside posted at 11:20 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
At least she isn't planning a 20 day vacation in Hawaii with a cost of 4 million dollars for the taxpayers. You libtards make me sick.
AZGregory posted at 11:42 am on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
After great success entertaining the troops in Afghanistan at a USO show, Jan Brewer reportedly intends to take her one-woman Phyllis Diller tribute show to Vegas.
informedVoter posted at 12:36 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
@Slabside - FauxNews talking points justify Brewers actions here?
During Ronald Reagan's fist year in office, he made seven trips west to his California ranch, spending all or part of 42 days there. And let's not forget about, "the one we must not speak of", Dubbya. He took a lot of vacation time. I wonder the price tag on that.
An interesting side note, 10 years ago today I recall one V.P. Cheyney speaking to Paul O'Neill, saying "You know, Paul, Reagan proved that deficits do not matter."
More GOP hypocrisy? I can share much, much more......
Slabside posted at 1:58 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
@ informedVoter, look at what you posted will you?
"he made seven trips west to HIS California ranch"
Dubbya spent much of his vacation at HIS ranch.
If you are so dense that you cannot see the difference between a POTUS vacationing at his own residence and a POTUS spending millions at resorts all over the world then you really need professional help.
bubba posted at 4:24 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
During Bush’s two terms, the cost of operating Air Force One ranged from $56,800 to $68,000 an hour. Bush used Air Force One 77 times to go to his ranch in Crawford, TX. Using the low end cost of $56,800, Media Matters calculated that each trip to Crawford cost taxpayers $259,687 each time, and $20 million total for Bush’s ranch flights.
If cost of the flight was the only expense involved to taxpayers Bush’s vacations would still seem rather economical, but there is more, much more. Unlike the Obama’s $4 million Christmas vacation price tag, which includes the cost of everything from transportation to accommodations for the First Family, the White House staff, and the White House press corps, Bush’s numbers only include the cost of flying the president to Crawford. The cost of transporting and accommodating staff, media, friends and family is not included in Bush’s vacation numbers.
Masterrogue666 posted at 9:15 pm on Thu, Dec 6, 2012.
@ Bluepoet and Informed Voter: It's obvious that neither one of you read the article. It clearly states:
"organized by the Department of Defense, to meet with military leaders and soldiers."
So, the DOD is "responsible". You got a problem, take it up with them! Since many of soldiers hail from AZ, it would be an insult not to invited AZ's governor.
Too bad your bias and hatred shows so readily....
bubba posted at 5:54 am on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
leftystillfree.....I think you may have misunderstood my post. "Bush’s numbers (20 million) only include the cost of flying the president to Crawford. The cost of transporting and accommodating staff, media, friends and family is *not* included in Bush’s vacation numbers." Of course the taxpayers are paying the staff's way. Bush's total vacation costs to the taxpayer makes Obama's, by comparison look frugal..
Slabside posted at 11:33 am on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
When American families are cutting back on travel due to rising gas and food prices, President Obama should be considerate of the sacrifices millions of citizens are forced to make and adjust his travel plans accordingly. Statistics published by The Blaze note the Obama vacation to Hawaii last year cost approximately $4 million. Before the family trip to Hawaii, the Obama's had already spent $10 million dollars of taxpayer money traveling to Vail, Colo.; Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; and Spain.
Slabside posted at 11:38 am on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
On December 3, 2012, President Obama denied the request of Governor O’Malley and the entire Maryland congressional delegation to award Individual Assistance to Somerset County, Maryland to recover from Hurricane Sandy.
Somerset County is Maryland’s poorest county. The towns of Crisfield, Fairmount, and Deal Island were devastated by the hurricane, with flood waters causing widespread damage. These poor, working waterfront communities were already fragile from the decline of the seafood industry. Super Storm Sandy left them with no where to turn except FEMA for assistance.
For the $4 million it will cost taxpayers for the President to vacation in Hawaii, we could rebuild Somerset County. The President should stay home and send our tax money to Somerset County to rebuild.
bubba posted at 1:58 pm on Fri, Dec 7, 2012.
Maryland has 30 days to file the appeal. The state is urging homeowners, renters and business owners who suffered damages not covered under existing insurance policies to report the damages to county emergency managers in Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester counties.
FEMA has approved federal funding for state and local governments and certain nonprofits. The additional assistance sought by the state would support families and individuals.
......FEMA's first responsabilty (as I would understand it) is to protect life and limb then restore infrastructure such as roads and utilities. Individual Assistance? Is the Federal Government expected to reimburse losses to those irresponsible individuals that refuse to have adequate insurance if any at all? I thought it was conservatives that always complained about dependance on Government.