President Barack Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace in Kabul late today after Obama made a surprise landing in Afghanistan. Photo by Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images. Below, middle, Obama is pictured in a leather bomber jacket that he wore to address U.S. troops stationed at Bagram Air Base on his way out. Photo by Charles Dharapak / AP.)
by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama, who made a surprise landing in Afghanistan today, delivered a message to the Afghan leader about the unfinished business of building a stronger government and battling corruption, and a message of thanks to the thousands of U.S. troops stationed in an escalating war more than eight years old.
The Afghan government had not been informed of Obama's unannounced trip to the presidential palace in Kabul and Bagram Air Base until Thursday, according to the White House. The president arrived at Bagram aboard Air Force One at 7:25 pm local time, after a nearly 13-hour flight. And Obama arrived at the presidential palace by helicopter shortly after 8 pm Kabul time.
Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai emerged from the embattled palace along a red carpet to the parade grounds in the middle of tree-lined palace complex. They stood fro their national anthems, reviewed the assembled troops and returned inside the palace.
Obama was there to "engage'' Karzai on the benchmarks that the U.S. expects of the Afghan government, according to Marine Gen. Jim Jones, the National Security Adviser, who briefed reporters aboard Air Force One en route. Obama was there "to make understand that in his second term, there are certain things that have been not paid attention to, almost since Day One,'' Jones said. "That is things like...a merit-based system for appointment of key government officials, battling corruption, taking the fight to the narco-traffickers, which fuels, provides a lot of the economic engine for the insurgents."
Obama and Karzai met for about a half-hour , according to a senior admnistration official. Obama told Karzai that he felt some progress had been made since they had last spoken via videoconference two weeks ago, the official said. In the meeting, described as "businesslike'' and "very productive,'' the main topics discussed included governance, merit-based appointments of Afghan officials, and corruption. They also talked about recent trips which Karzai took to China and Pakstan - and the Afghan leader is planning another trip to Washington on May 12.
Karzai said he wanted to "express the gratitude of our people for the help that America has given us for the last eight years." He said they had a "good discussion," and thanked American taxpayers for "the rebuilding and reestablishing the institutions in Afghanistan."
Obama thanked his host for his hospitality. "The American people are encouraged by the progress that's been made,' Obama said.
Jones, in speaking with reporters there, underscored the problem of corruption in Afghanistan. "The president [Karzai] needs to be seized with how important that is,'' he said.
Of the meeting between the two, Jones said: "This is something that simply has to be done. We have to have the strategic rapport with President Karzai and his cabinet to understand how we are going to succeed this year in reversing the momentum the Taliban and the opposition forces have been able to establish since 2006."
Later, after leaving the palace at about 10:30 pm Kabul time, Obama returned to Bagram, where an estimated crowd of about 2,000, mostly from the 82nd Airbone, the U.S. military division in charge of eastern Afjghanistan, greeted the commander-in-chief. Obama also met there with Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
The Bagram audience, already boisterous before the president appeared, burst into loud applause when he entered and began shaking hands and cheered again as he climbed a riser to a podium.
"One of the main reasons I'm here is to just say thank you for the incredible efforts of our US troops and our coalition partners,'' Obama said. "They make tremendous sacrifices far away from home, and I want to make sure they know how pround their commander-in-chief is of them."
(President Obama greeted troops at Bagram Air Base at the close of his surprise Sunday visit to Bagram and Kabul to meet with President Hamid Karzai. Photo of Obama shaking hands by Charles Dharapak / AP. Photo of Obama addressing troops by Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images. With additional credit and thanks to the traveling pool reporting of Peter Spiegel of The Wall Street Journal aboard Air Force One and in Afghanistan today.)
Comments
After seeing his rating going down and his crew told him that it was time for another photo opt.
Posted by: dusty | March 28, 2010 7:27 PM
Bravo Mr. President.
Posted by: ornery | March 28, 2010 8:25 PM
But, what was the carbon footprint?
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
[For a light hearted take on our present peril]
Posted by: LibertyAtStake | March 28, 2010 8:28 PM
OK, well I don't think that the President just decided to make a 26 hour round trip surprise flight to Kabul just to have a little chat with Hamid Karzai when he's got a giant screen, secure link, high definition video conference link one push button away. So the question is; why did he really go?
Posted by: Bob Hamilton | March 28, 2010 9:02 PM
The troops can't stand him!
Posted by: Denny Crane | March 28, 2010 11:12 PM
"One of the main reasons I'm here is to just say thank you for the incredible efforts of our US troops and our coalition partners,'' Obama said. "They make tremendous sacrifices far away from home, and I want to make sure they know how proud their commander-in-chief is of them."
--------------------
Could never have predicted this. Thank you President Obama for this most thoughtful show of support for the members of the American military forces in combat in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | March 29, 2010 12:41 AM
Keep him there!!!!!!!
Posted by: cadman | March 29, 2010 8:03 AM
Obama: "Rahm I thought that if I rammed this massive healthcare bill down Americans throats that they would like me, yet it made no difference"
Rahm: "Mr. President, I told you not to go so big, so fast. We now need damage control. I know time for another photo opt. Why don't you go visit the troops and pretend you support them."
Posted by: dusty | March 29, 2010 8:38 AM
Obama is such a preisdential leader. He is such a disgrace to the office and to think he is the commander in chief. 2012!
Posted by: roundlaketom | March 29, 2010 9:21 AM
The costs of this photo op visit would be better spent on more armored vehicles for our fighting men and women that the Jacket and transportation costs. This was so much like Bush on the carrier. His ratings are so low he will do anything to get attention, must be the "I" that needs nourishment.
Posted by: Joe Public | March 29, 2010 9:52 AM
Despite the diversion and photo op, new numbers out this morning from Rasmussen show that 54 percent of voters favor repeal of the health care plan. That’s virtually unchanged from a week ago. The data also shows that 50 percent now believe passage of the law was bad for the country. Obama's approval numbers have also fallen back to his record low level in Gallop.
Posted by: Derrick | March 29, 2010 9:55 AM
The troops can't stand him!
Posted by: Denny Crane | March 28, 2010 11:12 PM
Spoken like an expert through both cheeks.....
Posted by: bill r. | March 29, 2010 9:57 AM
The moronic wingnuts are at it again! Number one: he is the commander-in-chief. He is supposed to be leader of the troops and see them. Number two: your hero Bush used to do the same thing- are you bashing him? roundlake bTom is the biggest fool- he's a disagrace for doing his job?
Posted by: Disgusted | March 29, 2010 10:21 AM
I'm sure Obama was telling Karzai how much he hates America.
Posted by: bettys | March 29, 2010 10:27 AM
When Bush went, he didn't have to wake the troops up to see him.
Posted by: charles robb | March 29, 2010 10:36 AM
Greatest president of our time. God Bless you, Mr. President. Keep on keeping on!
Posted by: N.T. | March 29, 2010 10:43 AM
Funny how all the teabaggers run to their computers and complain about this being just an expensive publicity stunt. Wanna bet the same folks gushed about what a brave leader Dubya was when he did the same thing just a few years back?
Posted by: Scott Free | March 29, 2010 10:55 AM
you republicans make us all ill. This guy couldnt go the bathroom without you morons whining about how he did that wrong too. Crawl into your holes and come back when you have someone to actually vote for in 2012
Posted by: so sad | March 29, 2010 11:14 AM
Karzai is a criminal. Afghanistan is a drug operation.
Posted by: Kingfish | March 29, 2010 11:26 AM
What's the Murder - Death - Kill count in Afghanistan and Iraq this week??
Why isn't Donny Fitz giving out these numbers anymore??
Bring 'em on home now little barry, donny boy is getting upset with you since you lied to him about these nasty old wars and how you'de handle them.
The death count in Barry's war this week???
No answer?? nothing to say there donny boy? How about some pictures of flag draped coffins at Langly to remind the American public of the Death Count?
No?? no pictures of coffins? no weekly front page stories of the death count? How many have died on Barry's watch so far??
Silence? crickets? hypocrites!!
Posted by: springfield | March 29, 2010 11:42 AM
it would be cool if he really made a surprize visit. Like jumped out from under a desk SURPRIZE!!! Get Karzi's reaction on youtube.
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Posted by: lmry | March 29, 2010 12:39 PM
Hey Afghanistan, you can keep him.
Posted by: BDD | March 29, 2010 12:55 PM
LMFAO....we gave Bush 8 years and he didnt do cagada but we can't even let Obama do his thing for at least his 1 term? This is evident of hatred and biase for Obama. Remember, he's got integrity and cares for the people of the United States, in which you live in. REALLY THINK ABOUT IT...your opinion is your own opinion but facts are facts...
Posted by: Ken | March 29, 2010 1:02 PM
Today I'm especially proud
to be an American. What
higher calling can our country
have but to save the Afghans
from themselves!
Hondacivic21218
Posted by: Herman Heyn | March 29, 2010 1:18 PM
Looking at the pictures above, our troops are just like the tea party activists...they're mostly white....I wonder when the MSM will say, you have to be a racist to serve our country.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | March 29, 2010 1:24 PM
Obama takes photo op because his popularity is nill. He is a one time president for sure. He wants to take over everything in this country. Photo op with karzai the land of terrorists. To have a photo op with israels prime minister he cant do.Obama kisses all our enemies and slaps our friends ,what an administration.The troops are the only thing i am proud of !!! They give their all
Posted by: Hotridd | March 29, 2010 1:45 PM
"GOP TEA BLOGGERS SPEAK" Too much Chicken and Change in America! We're the GETBACK, the GOP Big PAYBACK! Stop the press! Stop the press! Too much Leadership going on down at the former Cheney/Bush Darken Doors of the Whitehouse! He works too much! We're tired! Too much "Two Tacos, rice and beans" in America! Stop the press! He's YOU LIE, (birthers) he's brown skin, brown eye, and UNATTESTED unto.....! We need a "Supplementary War Spending Bill" Halliburton/KBR and "Z" needs a new and GOP Generational Theft by Deception deal or no deal in the region! Too much "Chicken and Change" going on in America! He's YOU LIE! Senator Joe Wilson, YOU LIE, brown skin, brown eye. He's got a plan! He's got a mission! Stop the press! Stop the press! He thinks he the Commander and Chief! We're safer! We're safer! What a Disgrace to the office! 2012 can't come soon enough! We need SARAH! Her lips, her thighs, got all of so HYPNOTIZED! Drink the TEA! It's Sarah's TEA! Let's PAR-TAY!
Posted by: roger morris | March 29, 2010 2:20 PM
Makes my stomach turn over every time I see Obama on tv. All I see when he is on tv is dollar bills flying away. He is going to be known as the biggest spender of all time. We"MUST" get him out at next election.
Posted by: quills | March 29, 2010 2:50 PM
President Obama IS the Commander In Chief.
Denny Crane, you're right, the troops can't stand him. Just look at the disgust in all of their smiling faces.
Posted by: Chicago Terry | March 29, 2010 3:22 PM
Ride on Mr. President! You will succeed where Cyrus ,Asoka, Alexander, Ghengis Khan, Tamerlane, Disraeli, Churchill,Andropov failed. He is smarter and far more ruthless than this bunch.
Charles B. Tiffany
Kissimmee, Florida
Posted by: Charles B. Tiffany | March 29, 2010 6:01 PM
I see Trickled On is selling items from mom and dad's basement under the name Imry.
Mr. Silva, how does that spam from Imry pass the screener?
Posted by: Terry | March 29, 2010 10:26 PM
President Obama IS the Commander In Chief.
Denny Crane, you're right, the troops can't stand him. Just look at the disgust in all of their smiling faces.
Posted by: Chicago Terry | March 29, 2010 3:22 PM
Did you really think the Tribune would show the thousands who have no use for him? Get in touch with reality and put down the kool-aid.
Posted by: Denny Crane | March 29, 2010 11:21 PM
If you've ever met the President, you know he inspires an instant impulse to smile.
Even Prince Philip couldn't suppress it....
No surprising the troops enjoyed his company.
Was it a tad over the top to make the triumphant entry into the capital city on Palm Sunday?
Well, no matter. All is forgiven...
Posted by: ornery | March 30, 2010 1:44 AM
Second Terry's comment.
The comment from "Imry" is just an ad. There have been substantive comments that have never shown up here; John D. has complained about censorship, and I've had a few of mine that disappeared into the ether. How does "Imry's" get posted?
Posted by: DaveB | March 30, 2010 1:45 PM