So...The President Makes A Surprise Visit...

Some so speak in exaggerations and superlatives that we need to make a large discount from their statements before we can come at their real meaning.
~~~~~Tryon Edwards


Yes, I'm sure that most everyone has read the news of this trip. President Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. He left Camp David under the cover of darkness and touched down in Bagram yesterday evening. He was immediately whisked away by helicopter to President Hamid Karzai's presidential palace outside of Kabul.

So, what's the problem with that you might ask? Well... I can't help but wonder at the secrecy of his trip. Oh yes, his entourage expressed the need for secrecy as security concerns. Of all the other trips he's jetted off on since he's taken office, wouldn't that same reason apply?

Regardless of what I think, I find it interesting to read what others are saying about this trip.

From Russia comes this little excerpt.

In an interview for the Voice of Russia an Oriental studies expert, Vladimir Sotnikov, says:

"With his visit President Obama, first of all, voices his support for his new course towards Afghanistan, meaning the coalition's fight against the terrorist formations, including such as the Taliban movement and the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Secondly, Obama's visiting the country also means that he supports the political settlement process in Afghanistan, which, as we can see now, is gaining force there. And besides, by his visit to Afghanistan, President Obama wants to show that Afghanistan is moving in a correct direction and that a peace settlement in the country still remains a possibility. It seems to me though that it is rather a pure propaganda visit. Actually, the situation in Afghanistan is rather far from the one, which could be characterized as a deep peace settlement process".

And as regards Obama's appeal to the Afghan authorities to step up the fight against drug trafficking, which is forming an economic basis for the extremists, this statement of the U.S. President can be qualified as a pure propaganda PR action. And NATO's recent rejection of the Moscow proposal to begin destroying the opium poppy crops in Afghanistan under the dubious pretext that the North Atlantic Alliance is not ready to deny the only source of revenue to the people living in the poorest country of the world offers proof of this.[...]

Now for words from the GuardianUK.

Barack Obama flew back from Afghanistan last night after a surprise visit to thank American and Nato troops stationed there and to press President Hamid Karzai to crack down on corruption.

US military and diplomats have repeatedly said that success on the battlefield against the Taliban would count for little unless the Karzai government begins to win over Afghans by improving governance and reducing corruption.

It was Obama's second visit to Afghanistan, but his first as US president. There was a news blackout on the trip, with reporters being told he was spending the weekend at the presidential retreat, Camp David. The Afghan government was only informed on Thursday.

He spent only a few hours in Afghanistan, all of it under cover of darkness.

Obama, who flew directly to Afghanistan in a 13-hour trip, met Karzai in the palace in Kabul. "Progress will continue to be made, but we also want to make progress on the civilian front," Obama said.[...]

Then there are reports filed by CNN's Afghanistan Crossroads with the link to the full story and series of photos as well as 2 videos of his speech to 2000 out of over 15,000 troops stationed at Bagram Air Base.

Several hours after President Obama and his entourage flew out of Bagram Air Base on AirForce One, there was a rocket attack on the base. According to reports there were no injuries to any of 'Our Guys' located there, but the Taliban released their propaganda saying the rockets had exploded in barracks and there were "heavy casualties". They aren't ones to waste an opportunity to spread their lies and false reports.

While I may have my doubts as to the underlying reason for this fast trip, I have to hand it the POTUS for voicing his support for our men and women in the War on Terror, regardless if I think it comes from his heart. They deserve all of America's heartfelt support.

For a few more photos of the Presidents few hours spent in Afghanistan, check out FoxNews Row 2 Seat 4. Time will tell whether his actions match up to his words.



And so it goes......