Posted on 07/19/2008 8:23:47 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
Obama Makes Stop On Way To Afghanistan In Whirlwind Tour Of Middle East, Europe CHICAGO (CBS) A group soldiers serving overseas, including some from the Chicago area, were overjoyed Saturday when presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama visited in Kuwait.
As CBS 2's Susan Carlson reports, Obama stopped in at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait before making his first trip to Afghanistan. Camp Arifjan is a major gateway for U.S. soldiers moving into and out of Iraq.
The soldiers applauded thunderously when Obama arrived; one of them could barely contain herself as she sported a Chi-town sign.
When the cheers settled down, the first thing Obama said to the soldiers was, "Thank you."
"I am so grateful to all of you," Obama said.
Obama also talked briefly about military strategy.
"In speaking to commanding officers here, what's clear is we've really perfected a lot of systems to move equipment, supplies and obviously troops in and out of Iraq, as well as some of the work that's being done to coordinate our activities in Afghanistan," he said.
Obama also impressed the soldiers with his basketball strategy on the court. He joked to those watching, "You came out here because you wanted to see me get beat by your fellow soldiers."
and he took time to do a lot of hand shaking before moving on to his next stop.
In Afghanistan, Obama was officially part of a congressional delegation on a fact-finding tour expected to take him to Iraq. But he traveled Saturday amid the publicity and scrutiny accorded a likely Democratic nominee for president rather than a senator from Illinois. Security was tight and media access to Obama was limited by his campaign, and his itinerary in the war zones was a closely guarded secret.
Obama and others in the delegation received a briefing inside the U.S. base in Jalalabad from the Afghan provincial governor of Nangarhar, Gul Agha Sherzai, a no-nonsense, bullish former warlord.
"Obama promised us that if he becomes a president in the future, he will support and help Afghanistan not only in its security sector but also in reconstruction, development and economic sector," Sherzai told The Associated Press.
The area where the meeting took place is not far from where Osama bin Laden escaped U.S. troops in 2001 after his al-Qaida terrorist group led the attacks on Sept. 11. With the ousted Taliban regime resurgent and given the al-Qaida goal of terrorizing the U.S., Obama has argued that the war in Afghanistan deserves more attention as well as more troops.
Obama's first overseas tour since securing the Democratic nomination — he is scheduled to travel to Europe through next week — could be key to honing his foreign policy strategy with less than four months before the election. His rival for the presidency, Republican Sen. John McCain, has criticized Obama for not spending more time in the region and for developing a policy without more firsthand knowledge.
In that vein, Obama was expected to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday.
Obama plans to visit Iraq next, for the second time. Afterward, he will stop in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
Whur da white folks at?
pointing to the other guy...
Soldiers were “overjoyed” to meet the imposter who has done everything in his power to undermine their mission in Iraq, including voting against the Surge.
I don't know. Did people ask that question when the White candidates were shaking hands with a majority of White soldiers? Who cares?
see # 16, tell me how many you counted.
this is really starting to sound like Scientology propaganda.
Clinging to their God and guns? And maybe even battlestations?
I’m gonna assume that the command knew the Messiah was coming and offered those interested the opportunity to go see him. Those who went were ‘overjoyed’ and the rest just didn’t give a shiite.
"In speaking to commanding officers here, what's clear is we've really perfected a lot of systems to move equipment, supplies and obviously troops in and out of Iraq, as well as some of the work that's being done to coordinate our activities in Afghanistan," he said.
The attributed quote talks to logistical coordination, not strategy. Obama probably doesn't know the difference.
Similarly, see #2 and tell me how many "overjoyed" soldiers you count.
Did reporters say soldiers were overjoyed to meet Bush? McCain?
My friend said one of her colleagues, a doctor she works with, told her his daughter was one of 154 troops that were interviewed by the MSM. Only 4 soldiers were against our mission in Iraq. THOSE were on the news report. they never included the other 150 ! Boy was my friend mad.
If Hitler had the MSM...oh, wait he and Stalin did.
more in #16, but very few white.
I’m not talking about the reporters, I’m talking about the troops.
“I never cease being dumbfounded by the unbelievable things people believe.” - Leo Rosten
I personally am in a bad mood because every thing in the damn Tribune this morning was full page photos of The Messiah and how he is going to lead America out of the wilderness and into the land of the plenty.
argh....argh...thats me making use of my waste basket.
I wonder if I can sue Obama and Nancy Peloser for screwing up my ulcer.
OVERJOYED? yeah right! Please stop, the propaganda is far too noticeable
Nothing like seeing REMFS. When is the SOB going to talk to combat Infantrymen and Marines?
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