Cuomo travels to Afghanistan, meets Fort Drum troops

Governor Andrew Cuomo made a surprise trip to Germany and Afghanistan over the weekend,  meeting with military officials and greeting service-members.  According to his office, Cuomo received briefings from the Defense Department on “counter-terrorism issues” and “evolving global threats.”

The trip comes just days after New York City went on high alert because of concerns about a possible terror attacks on American subway systems.  The governor’s office said that Cuomo planned to meet with members of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division “to thank them for their service.”

“Approximately 270 members of the New York National Guard and 900 members of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division are currently stationed in Afghanistan,” Cuomo’s office said in a statement released Saturday.

“It is a deep honor to deliver a message of support first hand to our men and women in uniform abroad: New York stands behind you,” Cuomo said in a prepared release.  The trip also comes in the final weeks of an election campaign in which Cuomo has sought to regain the popularity and luster eroded by ethics questions and by criticism from opponents on the right and left.

Here is the full press release issued Saturday:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today arrived in Afghanistan with a bipartisan delegation of governors at the invitation of the U.S. Department of Defense, which is sponsoring the visit. During the trip, Governor Cuomo is receiving a series of briefings from senior U.S. Department of Defense officials on counterterrorism issues, the evolving global threats that affect New York’s security at home, and other matters. Governor Cuomo will also meet with New York and other American troops who are currently stationed in Afghanistan – including those from Fort Drum, New York’s 10th Mountain Division – to thank them for their service.

“During a period of heightened security concerns, we are working closely with our federal partners to increase preparedness at home in New York and protect our citizens from the threat of global terrorism. At the same time, we must never forget the continuing courage and sacrifice of the members of our military serving overseas, who have dedicated their lives to defending our country,” said Governor Cuomo. “It is a deep honor to deliver a message of support first hand to our men and women in uniform abroad: New York stands behind you.”

Governor Cuomo is joined as part of the bipartisan delegation to Afghanistan by Under Secretary of the Army Brad Carson, Governor William E. Haslam (Tennessee), Governor Jeremiah W. Nixon (Missouri), Governor Brian E. Sandoval (Nevada), and other Department of Defense officials.

Governor Cuomo was invited to visit Afghanistan by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Due to security issues, the trip could not be disclosed publicly in advance.

Approximately 270 members of the New York National Guard are currently deployed in Afghanistan – the bulk of which are based in the Hudson Valley and New York City. Additionally, approximately 900 members of Fort Drum’s 10^th Mountain Division are stationed in Afghanistan.

On Friday evening, September 26, Governor Cuomo arrived in Washington, DC from New York. That evening, he received security briefings from U.S. Department of Defense officials before departing from Andrews Air Force Base and traveling to Ramstein Air Base in Germany en route to Afghanistan.

Governor Cuomo arrived in Germany on Saturday, September 27. While in Germany, Governor Cuomo visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where he met with hosptial staff and wounded servicemembers. (Photos of Governor Cuomo’s visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center are available here.) Governor Cuomo then traveled from Ramstein Air Base to Afghanistan – arriving in Afghanistan Saturday evening local time (Afghanistan is 8:30 hours ahead of New York time).

Tags: afghanistan, Cuomo, tenth mountain division