Congressional delegation on secret visit to Baghdad- paper

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Leading a congressional delegation that included New York lawmakers, Gov. David A. Paterson visited U.S. troops and officials in Iraq during a secret visit to the capital yesterday, The New York Times said today. “Details of the trip were kept tightly under wraps by the governor’s office until Sunday morning, when Mr. Paterson was already on the ground. The visit, Mr. Paterson’s first to the country, was a whirlwind of meals with soldiers from New York and introductions to senior military officials like Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, the official in charge of training and equipping Iraqi troops. The governor was scheduled to meet on Monday with Ryan C. Crocker, the United States ambassador to Iraq,” the newspaper said in a report published on Monday. “Mr. Paterson joined four congressmen, Steve Israel and Anthony D. Weiner, both New York Democrats; Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma; and Edward Whitfield, Republican of Kentucky. The men flew out of Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Friday and arrived in Baghdad at about 1 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday, making numerous undisclosed stops along the way. Aides to the officials would not say how long they were staying, citing security concerns,” read the report. “Mr. Paterson, who in his capacity as governor commands the state’s Division of Military and Naval Affairs, largely steered clear of criticizing the Bush administration’s foreign policy in Iraq and declined to say when he felt the American troops deployed there should return. When asked if he favored a quick withdrawal, he said he would support President-elect Barack Obama in whatever he decided to do,” according to the newspaper. SS (S) 1