BAGRAM AIRFIELD – In a rousing holiday-season visit, President Barack Obama yesterday told cheering United States troops in Afghanistan they’re succeeding in their vital mission fighting terrorism.
But after he flew in secrecy for 14 hours to get here, foul weather kept him from nearby Kabul and a meeting to address frayed relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Obama’s surprise visit to the war zone, his second as president, came ten days before he is to address the nation about a new review of United States strategy
to defeat the Taliban and strengthen the Afghan government so American troops can begin leaving next year.
The trip also came at a particularly awkward moment in already strained United States relations with Afghanistan because of new and embarrassing leaked cables alleging widespread fraud and underscoring deep American concerns about Karzai.
There was no mention of that as the president spoke to more than 3 500 service members packed into a huge airplane hangar. After his remarks, he spent more than ten minutes shaking hands, going around the hangar three times as they grabbed his hand and held cameras and cellphones high to take photos.
Obama stayed on this United States military base, the headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division, the entire time he was here, just under four hours.
He huddled with General David Petraeus, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan and United States Ambassador Karl Eikenberry.
And he visited wounded soldiers at a base hospital, personally dispensing five Purple Hearts to wounded service members.
New phase next year
“Because of the progress we’re making, we look forward to a new phase next year, the beginning of the transition to Afghan responsibility,” Obama told the troops. He thanked them for their efforts, noting the difficulty in being away from home during the holidays, and they repeatedly cheered him in return.
He said the United States was continuing “to forge a partnership with the Afghan people for the long term”. He added: “We will never let this country serve as a safe haven for terrorists who would attack the United States of America again. That will never happen.”
White House officials said gusty winds and swirling dust led them to cancel Obama’s planned helicopter visit to Kabul, about 30 miles north of here. A backup plan for a secure videoconference was also scrapped. (AP)
