FReepers on the ground note 2 hours 45 minutes, with Obama fleeing, just before the call to Islamic prayer.
Posted on 07/19/2008 9:05:33 AM PDT by kristinn
SNIP
Mr. Obama touched down in Kabul about noon, according to a statement released by his aides. His trip has been cloaked in secrecy, which advisers said was due to security concerns set forth by the Secret Service.
SNIP
The governor of Nangarhar province, Gul Agha Shirzai, a burly former mujahedeen commander with a brutal past but who is favored by the United States as someone who gets things done, was the only Afghan official to meet Senator Obama and Senators Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, and Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, at Jalalabad airfield along with the United States ambassador and generals.
SNIP
“Barak Obama thanked the officials of Nangarhar and the people of Nangarhar for eliminating poppy cultivation, fighting corruption, and he promised that the United States would give more help to Afghanistan and especially to Nangarhar,” he said by telephone after the one-hour meeting.
“I talked to him about our security and other development projects and programs that we have,” Mr. Shirzai said. “We also discussed some other important issues. I hope Nangarhar becomes an example for the other parts of Afghanistan.”
The senators flew back to Bagram airbase at 5 p.m., the governor said. At 6 p.m. two military Chinook helicopters landed at the United States embassy, as two more attack helicopters circled above. The senators are expected to stay the night in the Kabul embassy.
Mr. Obama’s whereabouts had been unknown since he departed Chicago. He left Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Thursday afternoon, according to a pool report, and stopped and visited American troops in Kuwait on the way to Afghanistan, the statement from his aides said.
SNIP
No reporters accompanied him to Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Senator is expected to stay the night at the Kabul embassy....Wow, there’s a BIG secret...
According to Julie, “These are powerful images”. Please. This is OB’s first trip to A-stan since this WOT began almost seven years ago. He has been Jr. Senator of Illinois for about four years. I am NOT impressed with Sissy Boy's World Trip in Search of His “Gravitas”.
As a member of Congress, he could’ve flown there anytime. The timing of this trip is suspicious.
I’ll also point out that Michael Moore made a movie about the Iraq war without ever visiting Iraq. He relied solely on a second unit crew; a crew that managed to interview Nick Berg before he was kidnapped and had his head cut off but somehow neither of those details were not “important enough” for inclusion in his little film.
Keep him there, please.
He fits in much better with the local populace.
The FOX babe said no less than three times how “powerful these pictures are.” Huh? He was sitting in a square with generals and muslims around the room and he was just listening. Who knows what they were telling him?
This “quickie trip into danger” sounds akin to Mr. Dukakis climbing into the tank for a spin around the block....
And should be “spun” as such....
- John
Carlotta Gall ? I hope it’s her married name.
OK, I’m getting lost here. How can Obama be at Jalalabad for all of two hours and forty-five minutes, while at the same time visiting with the Gov. at Nangarhar for five hours?
We have eyewitness from a Freeper present to verify the time at Jalalabad. Wondering about the NYT representation on this trip.
OK, NOW IT IS MAKING SENSE. The part I missed is that “No Reporters Accompanied Obama to Afghanistan”, so then the Obama team is saying to the NYT whatever they want apparently, and the NYT is dutifully reporting what they are told by the Obamamites.
This is really looking like a BS Photo Op tour....Lets hope every where he lands we get a good local report ....thanks Captain. ...
Aid and Comfort to our enemies. Did he place a roadside bomb or just give them a warm hug.
Thanks to geo40xyz;
Just long enough to go to the airport gift shop, get a pressie photo taken, visit the head, make sure the passport was stamped and reboard the plane.
Lightweight, empty suit, sissy poseur. He visited under the blanket of protection provided by our military and gets cover by the absence of news reporters. He can say anything he wants with no verification or witnesses. What a phony!
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