Gov. Pawlenty to attend security conf. in Munich

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he's headed to Germany this weekend to attend the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy.

Gov. Pawlenty said he was invited to the event by the Secretary of State, the Department of Defense and Congress. He said he was invited because of his role as governor and chair of the National Governor's Association.

"The idea is there's a conference on security which obviously affects states, which affects nations which affects all of us," said Gov. Pawlenty.

The conference Web site said two heads of state, 25 defense ministers and 15 foreign ministers are slated to discuss pressing global issues like Afghanistan, the future role of NATO, and disarmament.

Gov. Pawlenty will be traveling with Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. Pawlenty is co-chairing McCain's presidential committee.

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