Home Subscribe Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

News
May. 20, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Source: Gibbons on way to Iraq

Governor to meet with Nevadan troops

By BRENDAN RILEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
More Info


Jim Gibbons
The Republican governor flew military aircraft in both Vietnam and the Gulf wars

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Jim Gibbons has left the state for a trip to Iraq, where he's expected to meet with Nevadans on duty there and to be briefed by U.S. military officials.

The governor's trip was confirmed Monday by a government source in a position to know Gibbons' plans but who was not authorized by the governor to discuss them.

Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

Most Popular Stories
  • AIR MARSHALS: Uncivil Aviation
  • CITYCENTER CONSTRUCTION SITE: Safety issues raised
  • LAKE LAS VEGAS: Bankrupt project still alive
  • SOUTHERN NEVADA ECONOMY: Analysts' projections sour
  • Wynn, 'known prostitutes' in tussle, LV police captain says
  • JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE COMMISSION: Judge denies charges
  • JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE COMMISSION: Judge faces accuser
  • NORM: Restaurateur tells his side of 'setup'
  • Boyd Gaming suspends construction work on Echelon project
  • NORM: Vegas ties abound at Beijing Olympics



    • Gibbons' office declined Monday to provide details of the trip, other than to help arrange for satellite feeds today for Nevada television stations and a conference call for print and radio reporters who want to interview Gibbons.

    A Defense Department official also declined to comment on the governor's travel schedule or on who else might be in Gibbons' delegation. Such trips are sponsored by the Defense Department and typically include three or four governors who first are briefed in Washington, D.C., before leaving for Iraq.

    Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki confirmed that he took over as acting governor on Sunday and will remain in that role until Gibbons returns later this week. He, too, declined to provide any details about the governor's trip.

    About 150 Nevada Army and Air National Guard members currently are in Iraq, mostly in Camp Bucca in southern Iraq. Most are in the Army Guard's 72nd Military Police Company, made up largely of soldiers based in Henderson. Also in Iraq are members of a Henderson-based 140th Military Police Brigade detachment.

    Although he's a politician, Nevada's Republican governor also has extensive military experience. He was a combat pilot during the Vietnam War and a reconnaissance pilot during the Gulf War. He retired from the Nevada Air Guard as vice commander in late 1994.

    In 2006, then-Gov. Kenny Guinn also made a Pentagon-sponsored trip to Iraq. Guinn, who traveled with three other governors, also made stops in Afghanistan and Kuwait. Guinn said upon returning that his backing of Bush administration efforts in the Middle East increased following the trip.



    Leave Your Comment 21 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    with wrote on May 23, 2008 02:11 PM: With any luck Gibbons will stay!


    NV National Guard Wife wrote on May 20, 2008 10:37 PM: Whether or not you support this war or the actions of Gov. Gibbons, please show support for our troops. And if that means being glad they had live contact with someone other than another unit member they've spent the last day, week, month or year with or glad they have something to focus on other than avoiding roadside bombs during transports, then take a moment to be glad for the soldiers and their families.

    As a spouse of one of the men Gov. Gibbons visited on Monday, I appreciate his time. You may think he's wasting taxpayer money, but if it boosts the morale of soldiers and MY HUSBAND can better focus on his job and be safer for it, then wonderful - even if it's a publicity stunt. Sometimes there are more important things in life.


    Summerlin Res wrote on May 20, 2008 07:26 PM: I think that anyone going to Iraq to visit our Troops over there is a great thing! Have any of you been there? Have any of you donated your time or needed things for our brave soldiers?
    Thank you Gov. Gibbons!!


    Johnathan L. Abbinett wrote on May 20, 2008 02:39 PM: Sadly, this is nothing more than a publicity stunt where Gibbons is posing as a patriot!

    Governor's that sincerely care about their citizen/soldiers serving in state National Guard units do attend deployment and welcome home ceremonies - Gibbons didn't even show up for a recent meeting of the Blue Star Families (those with family members in the service in harms way) in support of the Gold Star Families (those who have lost a loved one) sponsored by the Elks!

    That is gross dereliction of duty!

    Governor's that actually care get in the debate and fight to ensure our National Guard are only used to "guard the state and nation" - and don't get sent into unnecessary, immoral, unethical, illegal and Unjust Wars!

    Gibbons was one of the few vets in Congress who voted against the best interest of our military, military families and disabled veterans - yet he still tries to play the patriot plank as part of his pathetic political platform - when well informed vets know he is a poser!

    Our worst enemies are amongst us - other vets that do not really support the military community - he's a traitor to all of us and a shaem on all of Nevada!

    Gibbons could have saved a lot of money during these lean times, by setting up a video conference with the Nevada units overseas - and he might think about doing something really courageous, like reviewing the mistakes he's made in his voting record and apologizing to each and every Nevadan directly affected by his stupidity FIRST!


    BetsyMyles wrote on May 20, 2008 11:02 AM: Darn! All the gals at Olympic Garden and Treasures sky boxes will miss their favorite 3 am big tipper, in that cute napkin hat he likes to wear after the 3rd vodka --


    Mama Bear wrote on May 20, 2008 10:59 AM: And, who is "accompanying" (officially) Gibbons on this trip?


    Mama Bear wrote on May 20, 2008 10:57 AM: And, 2zero, what proof do we really have that his service in Viet Nam was "honorable?" Where's the proof?


    Mama Bear wrote on May 20, 2008 10:56 AM: Ohfercryinoutlout!! And, taxpayers are paying for this? He can't even do the job he was elected to do in Nevada. Now he thinks he can get involved in international affairs? Hmmmm. . .well, on second thought, if it has to do with "affairs" he might have a position. . .


    Peter wrote on May 20, 2008 09:22 AM: What a perfect time for the Krolicki investigation to be revealed!

    Didn't Gibbons just come back from an Iraq trip last year? A sitting US governor making annual trips to Iraq, for what purpose? This guy is such a freak! What a waste of taxpayer money, what an abandonment of post!


    Al Katraz wrote on May 20, 2008 08:51 AM: You're all missing the point. Sure Gibbo is wasting time and money...but let's get to the real problem here:
    Krolicki as governor?!?! I may head to Iraq with Jimbo.


    Read All Comments