Obama makes unannounced trip to Afghanistan (In which Obama stretches the truth once again....)

Globe and Mail ^ | December 3, 2010 | PAUL KORING AND SUSAN SACHS

[yoe]

President Barack Obama flew in to – and out of – a sprawling Soviet-era airbase near Kabul to thank U.S. troops and remind them that winning the war in Afghanistan means it will never be “a safe haven for terrorists who would attack the United States of America again.”

But what the President, clad in a bomber jacket, didn’t say and where he didn’t go and whom he didn’t meet spoke volumes about the short but symbolic visit to the war he has made his own and which may define his presidency.

Tellingly, Mr. Obama – who sent a surge of thousands more U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan – omitted any mention of his promise to start pulling troops out next summer.

Instead, speaking to hundreds of troops in a hangar at Bagram air base, the President said “we look forward to a new phase next year: The beginning of a transition to Afghan responsibility.” That’s a far vaguer pledge than the “after 18 months, our troops will begin to come home,” which Mr. Obama made last December when he ordered the surge.

[yoe]

Mr. Obama made only passing reference to the grim reality that U.S. combat deaths – and the toll on Afghan civilians, Taliban fighters and coalition contingents – have soared in the past year to the highest levels of the war.........yet he eviscerated Bush and the military as a senator and during his campaign. Weakness seems to be the Progressive 'mantle' of choice.

[digger48]

I’ve not seen a body count since the Kenyan took office. Used to be on a bottom-of-the-screen crawler pretty much 24-7 on CNN and MSDNC when Boooosh was still President.

How many soldiers has Obama and Biden gotten killed since taking office?

[traderrob6]

I love timely posts.

[thethirddegree]

Obama needs to be arrested, tried for treason and brought to justice by a jury of military families who lost their loved ones due to Obama’s insane rules of engagement.

[yoe]

....sort of skittered under the radar last week....

[Calusa]

Hearts and Minds, Baby!!

Now playing at the Canteen: 'The King of the Khyber Rifles' Tyrone Powers stars as a half-caste British officer in 19th-century India (now Afghaanistaan) battling the prejudices of both his Army colleagues and the local populace while trying to help put down a rebellion led by a greedy local ruler.

[PhiloBedo]

I wonder if he was bringing back some of those bags of Iranian cash, for his own stash.