President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to the troops in Afghanistan, telling them that for many of them, this will be their last tour in the country. The war is finally coming to an end, he explained. The combat mission will be over by year's end. "America's war in Afghanistan will come to a responsible end."
Obama's optimism that the Afghans will be able to hold down the fort echoes his same assurances over Iraq when American troops departed in 2011. Iraq is now slipping into chaos as al-Qaeda continues to infest the region.
Afghan President Karzai's office said it had declined a U.S. Embassy invitation for him to go to Bagram to see Obama.
Instead, Obama called Karzai from Air Force One on his way back to the U.S.
This was Obama's fourth visit to Afghanistan as president. Most of the U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan are withdrawing ahead of the year-end deadline. Elections are underway to replace Karzai, the only president Afghanistan has known since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
Pentagon officials have pushed for as many as 10,000 troops; others in the administration favor as few as 5,000 troops. Obama has insisted he will not keep any Americans in Afghanistan without a signed security agreement that would grant those forces immunity from Afghan law.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Obama Signals US to Keep Limited Role in Afghanistan - Associated Press
Karzai refused to meet Obama at Bagram Air Base, says U.S. Official - Yahoo News
Instead, Obama called Karzai from Air Force One on his way back to the U.S.
This was Obama's fourth visit to Afghanistan as president. Most of the U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan are withdrawing ahead of the year-end deadline. Elections are underway to replace Karzai, the only president Afghanistan has known since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
Pentagon officials have pushed for as many as 10,000 troops; others in the administration favor as few as 5,000 troops. Obama has insisted he will not keep any Americans in Afghanistan without a signed security agreement that would grant those forces immunity from Afghan law.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Obama Signals US to Keep Limited Role in Afghanistan - Associated Press
Karzai refused to meet Obama at Bagram Air Base, says U.S. Official - Yahoo News
Interesting timing. O shows up in Afghanistan to take the "Vietnam victory lap" right as the VA scandal is metastasizing. Almost like somebody realized the White House needed an extra big distraction or something.
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