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| Afghanistan |
| Barack Obama in surprise visit to Afghanistan |
| 2010-03-28 |
| Mr Obama's brief trip was expected to include a one-on-one meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, an expanded meeting with Mr Karzai's cabinet and U.S. officials, and a speech to American military personnel. The President left his Camp David retreated unannounced late Saturday and flew non-stop through the night aboard Air Force One, landing at Bagram air base just north of Kabul, where he was greeted by General Stanley McChrystal, the US and NATO commander, as well as Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador. Mr Obama's The trip allows him to see the early results of his troop increase strategy, show support for military personnel and refute critics who say his focus on passing healthcare legislation has diverted attention from foreign policy. Mr Obama traveled to Afghanistan during the 2008 U.S. presidential election but has not been back since his victory over Republican Senator John McCain, whose criticism at the time prodded the Democrat's trip. The White House official said weather and logistical reasons had thwarted previous attempts at a presidential visit since he took office in January 2009. At least 945 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 I support the visit. It is his return trip that I am against |
| Posted by: Spanky Glagum9213 2010-03-28 19:01 |
| #1 He's going to be awfully cranky tomorrow evening as he leads the Seder. |
| Posted by: trailing wife on the other computer 2010-03-28 13:57 |