CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SACRAMENTO

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning a short trip to Iraq early next week to visit U.S. troops, his aides said.

The governor has wanted to make such a trip “for the last couple of years, but he hasn’t had the opportunity,” said spokesman Matt David. In July, Schwarzenegger canceled a planned trip to Iraq because of the state’s budget crisis.

Though it was unclear whether he would provide any entertainment for soldiers, if he holds true to form they will at least get to hear him say, “I’ll be back.” David said he could not release the exact schedule for security reasons.

-- Michael Rothfeld