Gov. Cuomo jetted into war-torn Afghanistan on Saturday to receive counterterrorism briefings on global threats affecting New York, at the invitation of the Defense Department.
“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,” Cuomo said. “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.”
He joined governors from Tennessee, Missouri and Nevada on the three-day trip, in which they received terrorism briefings in Washington, visited wounded personnel in Germany and met troops in Afghanistan.
About 270 members of New York’s National Guard are deployed in Afghanistan, as are approximately 900 members of Fort Drum’s 10th Mountain Division.