Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is home after a whirlwind trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The Governor spent Veteran's Day visiting Oregon National Guard troops in Iraq and followed that with a couple of days in Afghanistan.

Kulongoski said many of the soldiers he met are worried about what awaits them when they return home next year:

Ted Kulongoski: "I will tell you what every soldier talked to me about that I talked to:  'Governor, what do you think the economy's going to be like when we come home in May.  And do you think I'll have a job?'"

Kulongoski said he had dinner with the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry. 

The retired General expressed reservations recently about possible plans to send as many as 40,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

Kulongoski didn't reveal details of their meeting.  He did say that President Obama has a difficult decision ahead when it comes to determining the level of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.