Mission takes Brewer to visit troops in Afghanistan - CBS 5 - KPHO

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is on a weeklong mission out of state right now with the Department of Defense, and CBS 5 News anchor Nicole Crites got a chance to talk with her from Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Brewer is part of a special governor's delegation that started her trip with a Monday meeting with injured veterans at Walter Reid Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

She met with 22-year-old combat medic Mason Steill of Chandler.

He was injured on his third tour with the U.S. Army fighting in Afghanistan six months ago.

Brewer also met with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The governor toured five installations in Kuwait and Afghanistan and said the trip has helped give her a much deeper appreciation of U.S. troops overseas.

"Being here and seeing with your own eyes, hearing the stories, you realize it's a war," Brewer said.

"We should feel very, very confident that we won't be here for long. They're doing their mission and cleaning up a mess and will be home shortly."

Arizona Democrats were critical of the governor earlier this week for missing the official canvass of the 2012 election votes.

The governor wouldn't disclose details about the rest of her trip, but is expected back in Arizona on Saturday.

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