Pentagon: Obama office cancelled visit

Imagine the hue and cry heard that would have been from throughout RepublicanLand if Obama had went, that the wounded troops were being used as props?

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Letter From Soldier in Afghanistan (On Obama's Visit)
Hello everyone,

I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram, Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone.

I want to share with you what happened.

He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the
area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at
Bagram

As Soldiers lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn't say
a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General.

As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big
top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with
weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball.

He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for
their service.

So really he was just here to make a showing for the American's back
home that he is their candidate for President.

I think that if you are going to make an effort to come all the way
over here you would thank those that are providing the freedom that they
are providing for you.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be
the President of the United States.

I just don't understand how anyone would want him to be our
Commander-and-Chief.

It was almost that he was scared to be around those that
provide the freedom for him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry, but I wanted you all to
know what kind of caliber of person he really is.

What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,

TF Wasatch
American Soldier
----------------------------------------

Obama had every opportunity to meet with soldiers, and he BLEW THEM OFF!

Nice fake letter, TF. I was there too and it didn't happen that way.

this is easy, Obama hates AMerica and he hates our troops. Plain and simple. Then again, the left hates America and our troops so no surprise that he is the messiah to them.

The actual story is that Landstuhl would not allow television cameras on the base and the Obama campaign figured the visit wasn't worth it if they couldn't have a certain amount of media exposure.

Obama had every opportunity to meet with soldiers, and he BLEW THEM OFF!

Posted by: Curtis | July 25, 2008 8:44 AM

I got 2 letters from Afghanistan....B_S.

T^his whole trip has been nothing but a political stunt anyone who thinks any different is totally ignorant of this mans past history of his patriotism

Dear American Soldier,

You signed up to fight a war, not shake hands.

Obama wanted to use the visit to the wounded soldiers as a political photo opt and the military would not allow it. Obama and his hard core left wing supporters could not have cared less about out military.k

So making speeches at various foreign cities is ok when they are viewed as campaign events, but visiting your OWN countrymen overseas is not? Obama came all that way and didn't want to stop and talk to his own people because it might make him look bad. There's a politician for you. I don't think that the troops would have cared that there were cameras there. That might have been their only chance to meet and hear him while deployed, and they should have that right too (after all, they can also vote). Those troops can't just drive to the next Obama-fest at his stops around the country. He is denying them their only chance to see him.

I assume he was going to speak to the troops for THEIR sakes, not for the sake of how it would look. He should have gone.

McCain would not snub his own country's patriots.

Anyone who has ever been in the military will tell you that it is not likely that you will ever meet any dignitary that visits your base or camp. It is not a big deal.

Yes, the stop would have been considered a campaign event IF the media and photographers were present to turn it in to a campaign photo op. But Obama, a Senator, would have been welcome had he come with only a few aides and security people. But he did not want to waste time visiting American soldiers merely to comfort and thank them. They are not his cup of tea in any case. He was more comfortable among the mob of scruffy America-hating Germans. After all, he is a "citizen of the world."

Obama is an empty suit with a great command of the English language. In other words just a typical self-serving politician.

The whole trip was a campaign event. The speech he gave was the biggest political stunt I have ever seen. How would visiting the troops have been any different. He could have talked to them he didnt need to make it a phot-op.

this is easy, Obama hates AMerica and he hates our troops. Plain and simple. Then again, the left hates America and our troops so no surprise that he is the messiah to them.

Posted by: Jeff | July 25, 2008 8:55 AM

Spoken like a "great" American. One more reason to take the keys from these children.

Why did Obama not visit the troops as a citizen?

I am bummed Obama caved to the pressure from the Pentagon and the GOP.

Who really cares if this is viewed as a campaign stop? These are Americans (voters) he would be visiting, so what's the problem?

Barack, you should have visited the troops.

It is conspiciously clear that many of your respondents have a hate for Obama. Many things they say are clearly biased, mean-spirited and meant to castigate, belittle the man with pseudo claims and lies and perceptions. The letter above is a example of just that. It is inconceivable that a soldier from the war zone would send a email to this paper that soon with such negative comments. When McCain or George Bush or any other dignitary of that stature visits Iraq or any war zone, they are whisked away and shepparded around just like Senator Obama was. The problem is, his detractors are trying to circumvent events and put a negative spin on any thing the man does because they do not want this country to elect it's First Black President, even though this nation would greatly benefit from it because he appears to be the best at this juncture of our history. Like John Kennedy before him and Abraham Lincoln, Obama, the best man for the job will prevail. The good sound minded citizens of America will elect him.

So Jeff. democrats and liberals hate America and only republicans and conservatives love America? I guess thats why we spend more tax money over seas than in our own country right?
Also, which soldiers did mcCain visit while in Canada and South America? Just askin...

Visiting the wounded tropps would be viewed as a campaign event, but giving a speech to 200,000 Germans would not?

From community activist in Chicago, to Illinois senator for 143 days to presidential campaigner. Yeah, this guy's got what it takes.

NOT!

When is the American public going to wake up to this PHONY? He will do anything to be president . PRESIDENT? Can you imagine him in the oval office? All the men that preceded him, (the ones that are no longer with us), must be turning over in their graves. He would be a disgrace to this country and the world.

President Bush's several surprise visits to Iraq are also pretty nothing more than political stunts.

A campaign event, isn't that what this whole thing is for Obama? Nothing but photo ops opportunity, good only for campaign news reel footage! Who is his people fooling, only reason he is there is for PR. The man can find a camera withj the best of them.

Wow, you have to hand it to the Republicans - it took them almost no time at all to roll out the fake emails from the troops complaining about Obama. Nice work.

But my advice to you guys is to turn your energy breathing some life into John McCain's moribund campaign instead.

He could have visited. He just didn't want to bother if he couldn't bring reporters and camera people along. What would be the point? It wouldn't have gotten him any "atta-boys."
Bad move, Obama. My brother is in the military and soldiers/service people are VERY, very aware of any real or imagined slights. (And sometimes the slights are imagined. It doesn't matter. Ask many service people about Kerry. It has always amazed me how some service people hated Kerry but loved Bush, when Kerry served and Bush got out of combat duty.)

I would rather seen him meet our WOUNDED HEREOS instead of a "photo op" with 200k Germans !!! Just another politician who wants to get elected and REALLY does not care about anything elese!!

Vinny, wherever Obama goes, the camera and press entourage goes. He can't scratch his nose without a photo being up somewhere in a blog, questioning his finger choice when scratching.

So if you think he could have gone there without it being a photo op, you're wrong.

Meanwhile, Jeff, really, you can't be more than maybe 16, the way you talk.

yea right "the truth"- you were'nt there and you never were "there"

George Brown writes: "T^his [sic] whole trip has been nothing but a political stunt anyone who thinks any different is totally ignorant of this mans past history of his patriotism"

What kind of ad hominem attack is that, George? His "past history" includes loving our nation and respecting her citizens as much as you and I do -- don't let all those malicious Internet hoaxes fool you.

By the by, his opponent John McCain has been complaining that Obama hadn't been to Iraq in some time... Yet now all he's doing is complaining that he went.

Which is it?

If Obama goes to visit the troops, it's a publicity stunt. If he doesn't he doesn't care about them.

If violence is up in Iraq, we are winning the war. If violence is down, we are winning the war.

See what I did there?

When is McCain going to hold a fundraiser in England? Or rally in Canada? Or perhaps he'll be addressing the pressing issues in Columbia this week. What.. wait, he's already done those things? How anti-American of him.

PS, John Patrick also writes: "Yes, the stop would have been considered a campaign event IF the media and photographers were present to turn it in to a campaign photo op. But Obama, a Senator, would have been welcome had he come with only a few aides and security people."

...Is "welcoming him" what you call the Bush State Dept. sending out memo after memo forbidding Embassy officials from helping Sen. Obama while overseas and even apparently violating these Embassy workers' 1st Amendment by forbidding them from even attending the speech?

Mr. Patrick goes for the Hail Mary pass, "But he did not want to waste time visiting American soldiers merely to comfort and thank them. They are not his cup of tea in any case. He was more comfortable among the mob of scruffy America-hating Germans."

Yes, of course. All those "scruffy America-hating Germans"... Would those be the Germans waving all those American flags we saw?

Perhaps what they dislike is our president, not our nation.

The vitriol spewing out from the GOP partisans here is a clear indication of the need for several doses of "chill pills."

It's not Obama's fault the McCain campaign seems to be imploding in July.

I would have more respect for Obama if he would just drop this change junk and just admit what most knowledgable people know that he is just like every other politician. the real loser in this whole election is that we are going to either get a person that has no courage and conviction but can give a good speech or a person that has no spine or ideas of his own but was a pow. we have no good choices in this election no one that is truly a leader just more of the same

Is this supposed to surprise us? Obama's entire life since leaving law school has been nothing more than a series of campaign events. He is a deeply shallow person who cares nothing for his fellow Americans. The only person Obama cares about is Obama. I hope he is trounced in November!

Shows how two face Obama is-
,He could care less for the trooops- All he wants is BIG SHOW OFFF MEDIA-
His BORAX painted airplane is a good example-

Obama's camp should have taken whatever steps so that the visit would not be a campaign event. They could have said no cameras, no interviews, etc. Instead they just didn't go. This guy just makes my skin crawl with the way he expects us to believe everything just because he said it. Problem is, it works on a lot of people. Scary.

Just shameful how he would ignore our troops. Guess who the only US citizens who can vote from Germany are? Enjoy your rally, Hussein. Germans can't vote in our elections.

American first that comment that just because people oppose Obama because he's black is blatantly offensive. I oppose him but it's not because of his color it's because he brings nothing to the table other then the ability to give a good speech. I think it's sad that he could possibly win because of racism on the part of the democratic party, and by that i mean accusations of racism towards anyone that questions or critiques this candidate who has never shown one ounce of courage or decisiveness. If he was not as good a speech giver he wouldn't even be running because his history and his knowledge of the world is not good enough to be president. shame on you for promoting prejudice ideas like that.

BO was smart in not visiting the soldiers wounded during the surge he claims did not work.

NBC reports what everyone knows: Obama cancelled the visit when he found out he couldn't use it as a campaign photo-op. The military was perfectly welcome to have him, but not the press entourage, visit.
"One military official who was working on the Obama visit said because political candidates are prohibited from using military installations as campaign backdrops, Obama’s representatives were told, “he could only bring two or three of his Senate staff member, no campaign officials or workers.” In addition, “Obama could not bring any media. Only military photographers would be permitted to record Obama’s visit.”

The official said “We didn’t know why” the request to visit the wounded troops was withdrawn. “He (Obama) was more than welcome. We were all ready for him.”"

Obama, caught in another lie.

I'll never understand the right wing of American politics. Everyone who ever disagrees with them on anything is labeled an "America-hater" and unpatriotic.

I've said it a hundred times and I'll say it again: THE MOST AMERICAN THING YOU CAN DO IS DISAGREE!

Dissent -- after military service -- is about the most patriotic thing an American can do. Our country was founded on the notion that disagreement is good. Our entire system of government -- the checks and balances -- is designed to use disagreements to keep the government from moving too fast or foo far in either direction.

Real hatred of American ideals? That's the desire to quash all dissent; the urge to silence anyone who dares question Authority; the willingness to do as the Government says, no questions asked, like sheep that need guarding.

Was Obama's trip overseas political? Of course it was political: he's in the middle of a POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. Do you honestly think that politics is not being considered every step of the way by the McCain campaign? Get real.

Obama makes my stomach turn. What a two faced, lying snake oil salesman he is.
Does this guy have a stand on anything that he's not willing to flip flop on? The only thing he's not flip flopping on is admitting that he's wrong. Talk about stubborn and hard headed. Even though the surge worked - he said he'd still have voted against it. I guess a degree from Havard isn't really worth much -
stupid is as stupid does.
57 states - funny stuff, maybe he was stoned when he was talking.

Let's see if I have this right:

Obama is criticized for not going to Iraq. But he's at home trying to get our military home.

Obama is criticized for going to Iraq because it's just a photo op, but then Obama is criticized for not having foreign policy experience, but then Obama is criticized for going to Germany, meeting with world leaders and speaking to 200,000 people, because it's just a photo op, and when Obama is criticized for not meeting with wounded soldiers because he doesn't want it to be criticized for exploiting them for a campaign opportunity, but then he's criticized for not caring about the troops...

So, since anything he does will be criticized by some, he might as well make his own choices based on what he thinks is right. It's fabulous to see the lies that are made up in these posts. If you don't provide a link to back up your statement from a well-reputed source, then it's most likely a product of your jealous, whiny little imagination.

Nice fake email chain letter.

Thetruth, if you were really there, show some credential and offer some proof. Which unit were you belong to? Who was your CO? Else, please don't make things up.

It is pretty clear that Obama cares nothing for our men and women in uniform. He gave them no credit for their heroic service and success in the surge, he could not bother meeting with them in Germany and pandered to the same crowd of Germans who think that 9-11 was a CIA plot.

"Empty Suit" is too kind a term for him.

So let me get this straight...Obama visits the green zone and is expected to shake everyone's hand. If he doesn't, he must not care about them. Except for the fact that he never wanted troops there in the first place and is the only candidate talking about bringing them home. Maybe TF Wasatch wants to stay there for 100 years with McCain. Then the Pentagon (run by Defense Secretary Gates) tells him visiting wounded soldiers could be viewed as a stunt. So he's criticized for not doing it, just like he would no doubt have been criticized for doing it by McCain. So knowing that his itinerary was developed several weeks in advance, why did the Pentagon wait til 48 hours before to issue a ruling? Because they wanted to stir up this very discussion. So now wounded soldiers are off limits for both candidates, so TF Wasatch can meet Barack next time, as long as he doesn't get wounded. And while Obama is speaking to 200,000 German citizens, McCain is slinging mud from the Lowenbrau restaurant in Ohio? I agree with him on one thing- waiting until he's president to give a speech in Germany. That would be the only way to get more than 20 people to show up!

Dirty trick. It's a phony email chain letter. WGN radio confirmed it.

Seems to me the whole trip was a campaign appearance. At taxpayer expense, of course. You know, proving his foreign policy "chops"???

So who was the tall black guy I saw on television clearly talking to soldiers in Iraq. It looked like Barack Obama, but I guess it was an imposter because a previous post says he blew the soldiers off. I guess I should not believe my eyes and instead believe the previous post.

Funny how McCain almost dared Obama to go on a Eurpean/MidEast Tour only to start crying once he see's how much attention and success this trip has given Obama...

Obama 08

Pamela wrote: He is a deeply shallow person who cares nothing for his fellow Americans.

Sure – that’s why when he left college, instead of heading to Wall Street or some big law firm, he chose to practice as a civil rights lawyer and teach constitutional law. He always has been and always will be an advocate for the people – not corporations.

Just in case you receive that e-mail smear cited above from any of your right wing friends, here is the response from the military:

"These comments are inappropriate and factually incorrect," said Bagram spokeswoman Army Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green, who added that such political commentary is barred for uniformed personnel.

Obama didn't play basketball at Bagram or visit the Clamshell, she said. Home-state troops were invited to meet him, but his arrival was kept secret for security reasons.

"We were a bit delayed ... as he took time to shake hands, speak to troops and pose for photographs," Nielson-Green said.

And, don't forget that we, the American people, paid for the part of this trip that was billed as a "fact-finding" trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. I personally think he ought to pay the government back as this was obviously nothing but a political campaign trip. His campaign surely can afford it - it's raising obscene amounts of money, and in an economy that's supposed to be so bad. Where is he getting all this money when everyone is complaining they can't make ends meet, are losing homes, can't afford to buy gas, and more. Something's wrong there. He says these donations are from average Amerians - well, how many average Americans have to give $15-25 to raise $56M in a month?

"And, don't forget that we, the American people, paid for the part of this trip that was billed as a "fact-finding" trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. I personally think he ought to pay the government back as this was obviously nothing but a political campaign trip. His campaign surely can afford it - it's raising obscene amounts of money, and in an economy that's supposed to be so bad. Where is he getting all this money when everyone is complaining they can't make ends meet, are losing homes, can't afford to buy gas, and more. Something's wrong there. He says these donations are from average Amerians - well, how many average Americans have to give $15-25 to raise $56M in a month?"

Your reasoning is so lame like most from the NeoCons... I think that ole' Bushie needs to dip in his pockets and pay us for the billions and billions that he has poured into his blunderous Iraq policies looking for those Weapons of Mass Destruction....

Hey Joe:

You are absolutely correct. That American Soldier did sign up to fight a war, and that is exactly what he is doing. In fact he is fighting a war over there so scum bags like you can stay home and shake hands.

Isn't this entire episode just a confirmation that all Obama is is a well run marketing campaign? Just fluff w/no substance. Why didn't he go by himself? slip out unnoticed? Why? Because he couldn't get any media mileage that way. And just how do you go from "civic coordinator" to full time candidate in just 143 days? What exactly are his credentials and the experience to run our great country? And just why does he hate this country so? "As a child of the world" you think he could stand up for the USA vs. placating the european mindset. Pathetic.

AnneB-IL -- Yes, he went to Iraq and Afghanistan AS PART OF AN OFFICIAL DELEGATION. He wasn't the only official there. The European leg of the trip was paid for by his campaign. If you feel so strongly that Obama's campaign should pay back the American people, then all the other officials (especially those seeking any sort of re-election) should also have to pitch in. And in that same vein, any trips that McCain has taken at taxpayer's expense while he is running for office should be paid back by his campaign as well. And nothing is "wrong" with how Obama is raising his money. There are a number of sites that list contributions. I guess you really don't understand how dire the situation is and how starved for a change the country truly is. We can't continue on the path we are on, and McCain would just be a third term of the same thing. Every little bit adds up, as the country is showing.

Barack Obama has done nothing for the people of Illinois who elected him to serve as our senator. He said, upon his election, that he would not run for president. 143 days later he's on the campaign trail. Change we can believe in? The only thing he changes is his story.

I see reporter Mike Dorning has updated the post...

Politico is reporting that the Pentagon nixed the visit 1 day before after after having approved the visit a week and a half ago.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Obama_camp_says_Pentagon_nixed_troop_visit.html?showall

The original plan that was approved was to leave all the press on the tarmac, away from the actual hospital facility. So this never was a "photo op" in the first place.

There goes another weak anti-Obama partisan attack...

Fake e-mails and lies....The republicans "great" American way.

I HEARD BARACK WILL NOT ALLOW POLICE OFFICER'S TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH HIM. THIS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE HIS PRESUMPTIVE NOMINATION. I CAN'T FIND ANY COP PHOTO OPS ON THE NET. MAYBE HIS DISLIKES ALL PEOPLE WHO SERVE IN UNIFORM, NOT JUST MILITARY. AT LEAST HE WOULD BE CONSISTENT!

Sorry, that last comment should have gone to "thetruth."

Those of you who think Obama doesn't care about the troops (or even hate them), then please compare how the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans grades the voting records of Obama and McCane.

http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list

More I read about the cancellation, being a former GI, Obama is not fit for President, don't know where he gets his anti American Attiude, possible form his younger years in school--

Drewman, let me get this straight. He didn't want them there in the first place, so if he ignores them they will go away?

To support SouthSideD's post to AnneB-IL, here's an example of a similar McCane trip:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/15/mccain-to-host-london-fundraiser/

Once again the wrong wing uses the troops for political purposes and they would have done it no matter what Obama did. If he visited the wounded troops he would have been accused of using them as props for a photo op. Since he decided to cancel the visit out of respect, he is portrayed as dissing the troops.

His excuse is ridiculous. Of course it's a campaign trip, what else would it be? He canceled the trip because he couldn't bring his own photographers with him. Shameful.

Obama is a lying politician.
The trip was canceled by Obama because he was not allowed to bring his campaign entourage.

If Obama wanted to personally visit the troops without photo-ops, he would have been more than welcome.

He chose not to. He is despicable.

Minister Obama can't go anywhere without cameras, fawning press, and a teleprompter. Maggot is as Maggot does. What a pity, he actually sound believeable before this stunt.

I thought Obama's overseas trip was a way to gain the appearance of experience in international politics ... in response to Senator McCain's statement that Obama was inexperienced in foreign affairs. Obama's rationale was to go on a fact finding mission, in order to appear presidential, however it soon became evident to everyone that Obaman's real purpose was to use the trip as a self serving campaign photo op., Posing and pontificating in front of the crowds and cameras, rather than visiting our wounded soldiers. This is about the most unpresidential, and unAmerican thing Obama could have done. In spite of his fabricated image, and lop sided biased American media adulation, thank God the American people are finally coming to their senses, and realizing that Senator McCain is the only real Presidential choice for America.

Just think of all the troops who were all excited to hear they were going to be visited by a senator from Illinois, and the depth of their disappointment that he stuck it to them because they aren't able to get a photo op out of it.

Obama just keeps showing his maturity level at every turn. He pouts (and tries to mislead-false blame) to try and get his followers up in arms that he's being treated unfairly by the right. Illinois politics just don't blend well in the real world.

They're suppose to be making a program on Illinois politics that should open a door into his Child Politics he plays. They don't opperate politically, quite like the rest of the world.

No problem - can't we just move along to a real story? Didn't you hear he called them from the plane.......and Reuters reports the conversations went like this... "Oh, you lost your leg since you did not get extra armor in your Humvee since I voted against the Emergency War Funding Bill back in May 2007...well is there another soldier there I could talk to instead?..........

The 'real' story is that Obama could have visited the wounded soldiers, but the Pentagon said not with the huge entourage and media circus ... however, Obama supporters are now trying to mislead the American people by enabling Obama to now blame the Pentagon for HIS bad decision. This is a typical form of damage control that the Obama and his people have used throughout his campaign. If Obama does something right, they shower credit upon him ... if he does something wrong, they blame it on someone else, or they tell us we misinterpreted what happened.

Hey, kids -- Obama's own pastor for the last 20 years already told you straight out who Barack Obama is -- he's a POLITICIAN.

If he couldn't take cameras in to film him visiting our wounded troops in Germany, he wasn't interested in visiting our wounded troops in Germany.

LOL, I really have to smile at all the "he's a media whore" comments. This is a guy who outsmarted the media to visit Clinton privately (and the media is still smarting from it) and who has a campaign staff with more sealed lips than a monk's colony.

If you have to come up with reasons let's at least make them believable.

His visit wasn't planned as a media event as that's hard to do when the sum total of people allowed out of the plane and onto the tarmac were going to be Obama and a Retired AirForce Major General. I guess all those wonderful press pictures of what you could see out of those double paned notebook sized windows on a plane must have been going to be stunning!

Oh look! We're at an airport. Do you think the hospital is one of these buildings on the left side of the plane or one of those on the right. Hey, can you see his car? Which way is it turning? Gosh I don't know the air tower is blocking my view. I know, let's get that life sized paper cutout of Obama and......

http://www.strategytalk.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=63054#63054

Barack Obama have stated in the past his anti-war sentiments. nevertheless, a quick visit to the wounded soldiers in Germany as a state representative will mean a lot to many people whether they're for him or not. Why did Obama, if in his heart of hearts wanted to visit just say to his entourage, "You wait here, while I go and visit with these great heroes? Sadly, no extra effort was done to do a thing like that. If my son was in that hospital in Germany, I would be riled up that this man, as a Senator, representing my country, missed on that basic human gesture--- and that is to pay respect to those who made the sacrifice. Shame on him and to those who still think highly of him!

If my son or daughter was in that hospital and we find an American senator was in Germany and didn't do what he can to "personally" visit them---that would be a total shame. Obama could just turned around and tell his entourage and other camera buddies,"Hey, folks...I'm going to visit these soldiers all by myself. You wait out side." How's that? Simple. The leftist media may side with him, but that doesn't mean most Americans do.

Wow, did you guys actually READ the article? It just said that the Pentagon told Obama on WEDNESDAY that they considered it a political event due to the campaign plane and the fact that he was with campaign advisors. The article CLEARLY says:

"Gibbs said that a campaign adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, had been in touch with the military and Obama receved a permit on either July 15 or July 16 to land the campaign plane at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.

Gibbs said the campaign planned to hold the accompanying press in the campaign plane while Obama, accompanied by Gration, visited troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Gration was notified Wednesday evening by the Defense Department's Office of Legislative Affairs that the Pentagon considered the visit a campaign event because of the use of the campaign plane and the involvement of campaign advisers, Gibbs said."

And here's the money quote:
"Whitman said that the Defense Department's Office of Legislative Affairs had contacted the senator's office in recent days to remind his aides that Defense Department policy that prohibits military personnel or facilities from association with partisan political campaigns and elections. Whitman said that defense officials did not dissuade Obama from visiting the Landsthul Medical Center. But it appears they were squeamish about the idea of wounded soldiers being used in a campaign event, even if no reporters or photographers were to attend."

Hmmm... so Obama actually cancelled because the Pentagon was "squeemish" about him going... camera's or no camera's. IMHO, that shows more respect and class than it woulda show'd had he bullied his way in despite the Pentagons misgivings.