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(AP) -- CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he's impressed with the soldiers he met while on a surprise weekend trip to Kuwait and Iraq.

Quinn made the trip along with four other governors including Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon. He says the Department of Defense invited him on the Middle East trip.

He says he met with members of the Illinois National Guard and Illinois members of the Marines.

Quinn says at one point the dignitaries had a town hall-style meeting with soldiers, who asked about military equipment, education and the state of the American economy. The governor says soldiers want to know what the economy will be like when they get home.

Aides for Quinn say for security reasons they could not release where the governor was traveling next or when he would return to Illinois.

Quinn said he previously visited Iraq in 2004.

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