Rep. Bachmann travels to Mideast, cites security for not saying where

Last update: December 24, 2007 - 8:56 AM

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is in the Middle East as part of a six-member, bipartisan congressional delegation.

In a live conference call with reporters Sunday, Bachmann declined to identify where she was, citing national security reasons. She said only that she was in the Middle East to visit U.S. troops.

"It's an honor for me to be here," she said. "I can't believe the progress I've seen here since July," when she visited Kuwait, Iraq and Pakistan.

She said she has seen a reduction in violence and an increased availability of electricity.

In the call, Bachmann said she planned to attend a Christmas Day religious service with U.S. troops.

She also said she has a present that a family in her district asked to be delivered to their daughter, who is in the military, and said she wants the troops to know that people back home haven't forgotten about them.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Star Tribune staff writer Maura Lerner contributed to this report.

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