BREAKING NEWS10:59 AM ET President Obama Lands in Afghanistan for Unannounced Visit

[pinto]

Source: NY Times

No more info yet, just a "Breaking" banner on the Times front page ~ pinto

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/

[joeybee12]

1. Well, that's ONE way to take the news that the Deficit Commission is a bust...

off the front pages!!!!

[laughingliberal]

11. More importantly, he avoids having to comment on their plan.

Previously, his tack was we needed to wait until they finished. Now, they're done but I don't expect a peep from him. I expect his budget will be based on their plan, though.

[saigon68]

42. More WAR More Deaths--- More Gold Star Mothers

Nice job ----Mr One Term

Saw his comments on TV this am

along with the diseased ABC cheer leader Martha Raddatz

[Turbineguy]

13. I think the deficit commision was a success.

It took a conservative approach to show it would not work.

That's how things work sometimes. I used to do that with strident and opinionated people. We would do it their way to stop the argument and then we would do it the right way when their way did not work.

[Creative]

38. Conservative approach--liberal approach, it doesn't matter...

There are only three things that can happen.

1. Default on the bonds.
2. Cut benefits and raise taxes.
3. Print money.

If you haven't figured it out, just ask Helicopter Ben.

[Botany]

2. good time to get out of there

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/world/asia/03wikileaks-corruption.html

Why are we fighting to support all that corruption?

Cables Depict Afghan Graft, Starting at Top

WASHINGTON — From hundreds of diplomatic cables, Afghanistan emerges as a looking-glass
land where bribery, extortion and embezzlement are the norm and the honest official is a distinct
outlier.

[Fearless]

3. Trying not to look like a lame duck.

Of course there will be no policy changes regarding the wars, no standing up to republicans, no nothing. Just a PR stunt. Move on people. Nothing to see here... :argh:

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Hope he brought a plastic turkey! n/t

[saigon68]

43. No Plastic Turkey from " Mr Change you can believe In"

He's got a few well wishes from the knuckle draggers back home that want to fry a few more Islamics

and blessings for Bush Catamite Karzai

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. So, does that mean if Fox News criticizes him, it's unpatriotic because

he's overseas?

[Bragi]

6. Good way to highlight his failed surge!

His failed strategy in Afghanistan hasn't been getting enough attention.

This should help focus more Americans on Obama's pointless war that they don't support.

[monmouth]

7. Maybe...Maybe he wants to talk to the military up close and personal-like

and wants to tell them to start packing it up. I know, I know, but hey! If he did that his next two years would be bliss. Okay, I'll remove the tinfoil now...

[williesgirl]

8. He should get the fuck home and start acting like a DEMOCRATIC President. Period.

[sarcasmo]

37. Right on williesgirl.

[Go2Peace]

41. absolutely!

These are arguably the most critical months for him to be here. So it is the last chance for a Democratic majority to get their legislation pass, and he leaves the country. Every time I hear the story of him in Afganistan I cringe...

[Plucketeer]

9. Wonder if this one will cost us

as much as his trip to India did? Of course, this is ONE destination where throwing billions away a day, is a good thing. :sarcasm:





Waiting for the tax cuts to kick in...

[No Elephants]

17. Watch Fox much? The RW reports of the costs o that trip were debunked.

[Plucketeer]

32. No I don't (watch Fox Much)

I went to school to AVOID stupidity. I let other's fact check them (FOX) You did see my sarcasm smiley, right?

[somone]

10. Well, the war president visits the graveyard of empires

[MineralMan]

12. This is interesting...the thread, I mean.

It's has a positive count of recommendations, but every reply is negative towards President Obama making this trip, or has some snide comment.

I don't know why the President flew to Afghanistan. I imagine we'll hear something about the reason for the trip later. He IS the Commander-in-Chief, so trips like this are part of his job. Thanks for doing your job, Mr. President.

Recommended, and commented upon positively.

[elleng]

23. ...

:thumbsup:

He probably went to thank the troops, which is DEFINITELY part of his job.

[MineralMan]

28. That's probably part of what he's doing there.

He may be giving some Afghanis a piece of his mind, too. That also seems in order. In any case, it's all part of his job. He'll be there for a few hours, and then he'll be back. He's our President, wherever he is, doing the job of the President.

[Bragi]

29. He's apoligizing to Karzai for the Wikileaks cables? /nt

[elleng]

30. Yes.

Rumor had it he had planned to meet Karzai, but weather prevented meeting; may do 'phone' instead.

[HillbillyBob]

31. Its a nice thought that he would be there to tell them to pack it up

He is there doing his job, glad for it and appreciated it, the last guy seemed to be more about photo ops then let darth C run amok.

Something many do not seem to realize, He is the elected Leader not ruler and he has to get along to a degree with congress to get anything done.
On the other hand I hope the hell he drags his heels on the dirty shit that the upcoming r controlled congress will be hatching.

[ProudDad]

36. Yep, just doin' his job

As spokesmodel for the Empire...

[AngryOldDem]

14. Thanking them for their service.

Why not just bring them home and end this madness?

[somone]

15. How many more will die for his vanity

and tragic delusion

[earthside]

16. Unbelievable.

It is becoming obvious that Pres. Obama must have a Repuglican mole, working inside the White House and whispering into the President's ear ... and Brother Barack must be doing whatever the mole tells him.

Perhaps the very soul of the Democratic Party is on the line over this tax debate ... and Obama flies away to the other side of the world?

Social Security, Medicare, and other foundation stones of progressive government are under attack by the 'Deficit Commission' and Pres. Obama high-tails it to a war zone so he can be photographed with uniforms?

Unemployment benefits for millions of Americans have expired and Obama is doing a photo-op with Karzi instead of blasting those who are ruining the lives of these unemployed?

Either Obama is getting some very counterproductive political advice, or there is just something wrong with this guy. Ducking the critical, important battles in Washington right now for a stunt like flying to Afghanistan is ... well, something is wrong.

[No Elephants]

18. maybe he feels they need a morale boost wikileaks on Karzai?

[totodeinhere]

19. Obama critics should quit their posturing on this topic.

President Obama went there to show support for and respect for our troops. After all, he is their commander in chief. You can oppose the concept of our involvement in Afghanistan and nevertheless support Obama's gesture toward our troops.

[MineralMan]

20. Some people just can't stop. Too bad.

Whatever President Obama does, and on whatever issue, some people will find a way to turn it into a negative, even if the way is an enormous stretch of the imagination. If he does something positive, they'll point out something negative he did or is "going to do," or complain that he didn't do it soon enough.

It's very frustrating, and unproductive.

[elleng]

22. ...

:thumbsup:

[Union Scribe]

33. If he respected them, they wouldn't be there.

[ProudDad]

35. I do not support those who fight for the conquerers

He's five foot-two, and he's six feet-four,
He fights with missiles and with spears.
He's all of thirty-one, and he's only seventeen,
Been a soldier for a thousand years.

He'a a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain,
A Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew.
And he knows he shouldn't kill,
And he knows he always will,
Kill you for me my friend and me for you.

And he's fighting for Canada,
He's fighting for France,
He's fighting for the USA,
And he's fighting for the Russians,
And he's fighting for Japan,
And he thinks we'll put an end to war this way.

And he's fighting for Democracy,
He's fighting for the Reds,
He says it's for the peace of all.
He's the one who must decide,
Who's to live and who's to die,
And he never sees the writing on the wall.

But without him,
How would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone,
He's the one who gives his body
As a weapon of the war,
And without him all this killing can't go on.

He's the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame,
His orders come from far away no more,
They come from here and there and you and me,
And brothers can't you see,
This is not the way we put the end to war.

[EFerrari]

39. I take it he didn't visit our black site. n/t

[mcollins]

21. Maybe he'll announce that he's bringing them all home.

Well,


one could hope, right?

[CatholicEdHead]

24. It just started on MSNBC now

[Turborama]

25. Link to live stream of the speech

Here: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Owl]

26. A waste of time. End the stupid wars.

[onehandle]

27. Quick! Look Presidential! nt

[ProudDad]

34. Catch the outfit -- where have we seen that before?

Complete with pResidential patch...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11913302

Where's the "Mission Accomplished" banner???

[CakeGrrl]

40. The cheese is sliding off DU's cracker

WTF? It's the Presidential seal on a jacket. He's not allowed to wear one like any predecessor?