New York, NY —

Governor David Paterson is back in New York after his tour of Iraq and Afghanistan. He says he's amazed at the progress that's taken place over the last 18 months in Iraq. The governor says the military generals he spoke with say the country is 90 percent of the way to becoming a democracy.

PATERSON: And the other 10 percent will not as much be a physical military battle, but a persuasion, getting the Iraqi citizens to see, the great wealth of their country, and the great opportunities they may have at this particular time.

REPORTER: Paterson is New York's first governor to visit Iraq since the attacks of September 11.