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Obama Lands in Afghanistan for Visit with U.S. Troops
Reuters ^ | Sunday, May 25, 2014 | Steve Holland

Posted on 05/25/2014 9:42:37 AM PDT by kristinn

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, May 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama traveled to Afghanistan on Sunday for a surprise Memorial Day weekend visit to meet with U.S. troops who are preparing to withdraw after nearly 13 years of war.

Spirited out of Washington aboard Air Force One, Obama flew for more than 13 hours for the brief visit to Bagram Air Base, the main U.S. base in the country.

The trip comes as Obama is buffeted by criticism at home that his handling of U.S. foreign policy has been too passive in dealing with crises from Syria to Ukraine and Russia.

He is to respond to the criticism in a speech on Wednesday at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His Afghan visit is bound to be seen by some critics as an attempt to redeem himself in the eyes of military veterans who are alarmed at allegations that government-run medical facilities in the United States have not provided timely care for veterans.

Obama, making his fourth trip to Afghanistan, was to be briefed by Army General Joseph Dunford, who heads U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham, as he nears a decision on how many U.S. troops to leave behind after most are gone by year's end.

During a visit scheduled to last just a few hours, Obama was also set to speak to the troops and go to the base hospital to see wounded soldiers.

Obama had no plans to visit the Afghan capital Kabul nor would he meet Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai or other government officials. This allows him to avoid getting immersed in the country's presidential election campaign to choose a successor.

(Excerpt) Read more at trust.org ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; afghanwar; johnpodesta; obama; obamatrip
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To: kristinn

You can bet he brought a full contingent of MSM reporters to insure that he gets full coverage. What a phoney!


21 posted on 05/25/2014 10:11:35 AM PDT by kenmcg (b)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: All

Source: Julie Pace via Twitter.

24 posted on 05/25/2014 10:18:28 AM PDT by kristinn (Welcome to the Soviet States of Obama)
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To: kristinn; All

I really snicker at the implied “secrecy” of this visit...

Under the cover of darkness???

What a [expletive deleted]!!!

Especially with the entourage he brought with him???


25 posted on 05/25/2014 10:19:04 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (It's not the color of one's skin that offends people...it's how thin it is.)
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To: kristinn

Two years since he last visited there and I’ll bet a dollar to a donut he won’t be back during his remaining time as POTUS.


26 posted on 05/25/2014 10:21:06 AM PDT by vox_freedom (America is being tested as never before in its history. May God help us.)
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: vox_freedom

He is taking a “Defeat Lap”.

It’s a new concept


28 posted on 05/25/2014 10:33:30 AM PDT by Rome2000
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To: F15Eagle

Pure opportunistic photo-op by Clown Prince Nobama. How many suck veterans could have been treated for the cost of this buffoon’s latest global jaunt on AF1? In a sense, Clown Prince nobama is killing more Veterans on Memorial day.


29 posted on 05/25/2014 10:34:50 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: kristinn

This visit is supposed to signal to all of us that this president really does love the military, and that this country is governed by a very patriotic administration. At some point, we may even see a picture of tears streaming down his face...


30 posted on 05/25/2014 10:38:03 AM PDT by odawg
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To: kristinn

A “campaign” response to a pressing problem again ... and again ... and again.


31 posted on 05/25/2014 10:40:44 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (Operating out of weakness? Imagine if he was working from a position of strength!)
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To: kristinn
During a visit scheduled to last just a few hours,

He should have time for a few holes of golf at the Bagram Golf course, though the need for armored golf carts might put him off.


32 posted on 05/25/2014 10:41:54 AM PDT by caveat emptor (!)
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To: tumblindice

I applaud entertainers who go there, no matter who the Prez is.


33 posted on 05/25/2014 10:50:12 AM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15 - 1030am - Obama's advance team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: kenmcg

This is the same embarrassing skidmark that thinks Marines are for holding umbrellas and Ambassadors are to be killed.


34 posted on 05/25/2014 10:51:44 AM PDT by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: kristinn

35 posted on 05/25/2014 10:52:49 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: kristinn

Maybe Afghanistan will offer him asylum?


36 posted on 05/25/2014 11:28:04 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: kristinn

Campaign event to minimize the VA hospitals’ scandal fallout.


37 posted on 05/25/2014 11:41:40 AM PDT by Moorings
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To: kristinn

I’m sure the men are real glad to see this puke.


38 posted on 05/25/2014 11:47:18 AM PDT by wny
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To: castlegreyskull

Couldn’t agree more. I feel sorry for those guys, they, I’m sure were commanded to go. At least I can turn my TV off, they were most definitely a captive audience.


39 posted on 05/25/2014 12:02:57 PM PDT by kagnew
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To: bayliving

I had hoped that they would keep him over there, but no such luck.....even they don’t want him. All I can say is that people of the US wanted change, and they sure got it.


40 posted on 05/25/2014 12:05:43 PM PDT by kagnew
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