Obama Begins Two-Day Visit to Afghanistan

[Wretched Excess]

Obama Begins Two-Day Visit to Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 19 -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama arrived in the Afghan capital Saturday for a two-day visit to the war-torn country as the debate over the U.S.-led military mission here moves to center stage in the U.S. election.

Obama arrived at Kabul International Airport on Saturday morning, but his itinerary was closely guarded for security reasons amid a surge in Taliban activity in recent weeks. Afghan and U.S. officials in Kabul confirmed that the Illinois senator was part of a congressional delegation visiting the country. But most declined to discuss whom he was scheduled to meet, with some denying that Obama was even in the country hours after he had landed.

Soon after his arrival, Obama flew by helicopter to the northeastern city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province to meet with U.S. soldiers at a base there, according to the Associated Press. His visit to the normally quiet province comes 12 days after at least 47 people were killed in a U.S.-led airstrike in the area that has fueled intense discussions about foreign military operations in Afghanistan. Afghan officials have said the majority killed in the bombing were women and children traveling in the area as part of a wedding party.

The Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked insurgents have regrouped in eastern Afghanistan, especially near the Pakistani border. Nangarhar's governor, Gul Agha Sherzai, a former warlord, briefed Obama and other members of the delegation about the situation there, according to Sherzai's chief of staff.

Obama's visit comes as the United States considers retooling its military strategy in the region to confront the mounting threat from Islamist insurgents operating in Pakistan's tribal areas near the Afghan border. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said earlier this week that he believes troop reductions in Iraq could be in the works, a development that would presumably allow the Pentagon to shift more soldiers and military resources to Afghanistan. The United States currently has about 140,000 troops in Iraq and 36,000 in Afghanistan as part a NATO force there. NATO and U.S. forces have suffered significant losses in Afghanistan in recent months, and in June the number of U.S. soldiers killed here nearly equaled U.S. troop deaths in Iraq.

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[Chris_]

Two whole days! 

[JohnnyReb]

Two whole days! 

Yeah, two whole days. He wants to make it look good.

[Wretched Excess]

this is probably a better story, although this quote is especially ridiculous.

Obama recently chided Karzai and his government, saying it had "not gotten out of the bunker" and helped to organize the country or its political and security institutions.

first of all, there have been several assassination attempts on karzai.  but coming from the guy that couldn't organize his little sliver of south chicago, that's just a massively hypocritical comment . . .

[Lacarnut]

Wonder if this dud will come back to inform us that they are using real bullets over there. 

[Jim]

Two whole days! 

Yeah, two whole days. He wants to make it look good.

sort of like Kerry's two whole months in Viet Nam

[Jim]

Wonder if this dud will come back to inform us that they are using real bullets over there. 

someone will have to inform him what a bullet is and that there real ones and blanks in addition to rubber ones.

[Wretched Excess]

Wonder if this dud will come back to inform us that they are using real bullets over there. 

someone will have to inform him what a bullet is and that there real ones and blanks in addition to rubber ones.

he may have the bullet thing figured out.  the air in chicago is thick with flying bullets.  he did a great job of fixing THAT, by the way.

[Wretched Excess]

"I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.

"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."

too bad he has already set his policy on both iraq and afghanistan.

[Jim]

"I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.

"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."

too bad he has already set his policy on both iraq and afghanistan.

Wouldn't want to muddy up policy with facts.

[Wretched Excess]

"I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.

"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."

too bad he has already set his policy on both iraq and afghanistan.

Wouldn't want to muddy up policy with facts.

or experience.

[Jim]

"I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.

"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."

too bad he has already set his policy on both iraq and afghanistan.

Wouldn't want to muddy up policy with facts.

or experience.

who needs experience when you have 300 liberal losers telling you everything ?   

[Wretched Excess]

The Barackstar!, trying to act like he gives a damn.

[Wretched Excess]

"This is a war that we have to win," he said. "I will send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan, and use this commitment to seek greater contributions — with fewer restrictions — from NATO allies.

first of all, what war isn't a war we have to win?  what a retarded statement.  and so, this means that his afghanistan policy is pretty much to continue the "failed bush-mccain policies of the past" . . . ?





*edited for grammar*

[Wretched Excess]

"I look forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday.

"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, their biggest concerns are, and I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."

too bad he has already set his policy on both iraq and afghanistan.

Wouldn't want to muddy up policy with facts.

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dctpNqZrDcI[/youtube]

[Jim]

The Barackstar!, trying to act like he gives a damn.

"When's dinner ?" 
"They said this would be like 10-15 minutes !"

[Wretched Excess]

he met the troops in kuwait (I believe) in a gymnasium.  I am sure that was a coincidence.   then
someone tossed him a basketball, and he swished a jump shot.

the obamagasms were intense.

[Chris_]

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/07/obama-visits-kuwait-insists-he-supports.html

retire05 starts off the commentary with an interesting observation:

Does anyone notice anything strange about the photo on the top? Let me give you a clue: the military closely follows the general population: black, 13%, Hispanic, 14% and few Asians or other.

I count 50 people standing behind Obama including three in civies (one Hispanic and two white guys, one with massive tatoos). Let's assume they are civilian workers. That leaves 47 soldiers and the breakdown goes like this: 9 whites and two that could be either Hispanic or Asian (can't really tell from the picture).

So only 11 out of 47 (or 23%) of the soldiers standing behind Obama are NOT black Americans.

Where were Obama's campaign handlers to tell the military "we need more white people up here" as they did at a recent rally?

This does not bode well for the Obamassiah who thinks that he can discredit what our military does and then go to meet them asking for their vote.

Our military is not the uninformed troops of days gone by. They have both satellite radio and TV and are fully aware of the goings on here on the home front. Being the most educated American military in our history, they are fully aware that Obama has voted against their funding time and time again.

So while Obama treks to the Middle East for some glorious photo-op opportunities, he refuses to do a town-hall Q & A between him and McCain at Fort Hood, Texas, the nation's largest military installation, for the military, their families and regional veterans.

Nevermind that the other photos showing Obama's "every man's candidate" moment, all the soldiers are (tah-dah) black save one Hispanic.

[JohnnyReb]

To make this as concise as I can.......

I'm a southern, male, WASP, Obama is a northern/muslim....."N-word" ....and a stupid one at that. If the US has "JUST" got to have a 'black' president, why not chose one with some brains, Condi Rice, Colin Powell, some body? Sheeesh! The modern day carpetbaggers are back with a stupid.....field hand "N-word"....they think they can control.

....and by the way. That, "I'm a southern, male, WASP" statement, doesn't mean I'm turning into the CC insect equivalent of the sexually confused DU UP cat thingy. I will not be having my "stinger" removed.

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

Supposedly, he is due to arrive in Iraq shortly, or already has.

The latest forecast has SAND STORMS in the area, so he won't be able to go to certain locations.

BUT, knowing what a military expert he is, he will no doubt DEMAND they take him via helo to a FOB in the middle of a sandstorm.   Oh wouldn't that be grand, the helo has to sit down and the insurgents capture his scrawny a$$ and does to him what they've done to every other American they've capture.

[Chris_]

Have you forgotten? The "insurgents" have already endorsed teh Obamassiah's bid for President.  Why would they do that to the one guy who'll make sure we all bend over and grab the ****in' ankles for 'em.  Why, to them he's the next best thing to the 12th ****in' Imam walking amongst 'em.

[Bluesuiter-Retired]

Anyone else notice the one very glaring thing about every photo coming out of Afghanistan -- there isn't one single "white" warrior with him.

Hell, during the primaries, a vast majority of blacks who cast votes for obama did so only because obama is black - now that is a hell of a reason to vote for someone.