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President Barack Obama makes surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan President Barack Obama makes surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan
(3 months later)
President Barack Obama secretly slipped into Afghanistan under the cover of darkness on Sunday, for a weekend visit with US troops serving in the closing months of America's longest war.President Barack Obama secretly slipped into Afghanistan under the cover of darkness on Sunday, for a weekend visit with US troops serving in the closing months of America's longest war.
Air Force One landed at Bagram air field, the main US base in Afghanistan, after an overnight flight from Washington. Obama was scheduled to spend just a few hours on the base and had no plans to travel to Kabul, the capital, to meet Hamid Karzai, the mercurial president who has had a tumultuous relationship with the White House. Air Force One landed at Bagram air field, the main US base in Afghanistan, after an overnight flight from Washington. Obama was scheduled to spend just a few hours on the base and had no plans to travel to Kabul, the capital, to meet Hamid Karzai, the mercurial president who has had a tumultuous relationship with the White House.
Obama's surprise trip comes as the US and Nato withdraw most of their forces ahead of a year-end deadline. Obama is seeking to keep a small number of US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to train Afghan security forces and conduct counterterrorism missions. But that plan is contingent on Karzai's successor signing a bilateral security agreement that Karzai has refused to authorise.Obama's surprise trip comes as the US and Nato withdraw most of their forces ahead of a year-end deadline. Obama is seeking to keep a small number of US troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to train Afghan security forces and conduct counterterrorism missions. But that plan is contingent on Karzai's successor signing a bilateral security agreement that Karzai has refused to authorise.
Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said the president had not finalised the troop decision and no announcement was expected during the Afghanistan visit. But Rhodes indicated it was possible Obama could announce his decision during a foreign policy speech on Wednesday at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.
said the president had not finalised the troop decision and no Obama's visit also was taking place against the backdrop of growing outrage in the US over the treatment of America's war veterans. More than two dozen veterans' hospitals across the US are under investigation over allegations of treatment delays and deaths, putting greater scrutiny on the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency was already struggling to keep up with the influx of forces returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq.
announcement was expected during the Afghanistan visit. But Rhodes At least 2,181 members of the US military have died during the nearly 13-year Afghan war and thousands more have been wounded. There are still about 32,800 US troops in Afghanistan, down from a high of 100,000 in mid-2010, when Obama sent in additional soldiers to quell escalating violence.
indicated it was possible Obama could announce his decision during a
foreign policy speech on Wednesday at the US Military Academy at West
Point, New York.
Obama's visit also was taking place against the backdrop of growing outrage in the US over the treatment of America's war veterans. More than two dozen veterans' hospitals across the US are under investigation over allegations of treatment delays and deaths, putting greater scrutiny on the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency was already struggling to keep up with the influx of forces returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq.
At least 2,181 members of the US military have died during the nearly 13-year Afghan war and thousands more have been wounded. There are still about 32,800 US troops in Afghanistan, down from a high of 100,000 in mid-2010, when Obama sent in additional soldiers to quell escalating violence.
This was Obama's fourth visit to Afghanistan as president, but his first since winning re-election in 2012.This was Obama's fourth visit to Afghanistan as president, but his first since winning re-election in 2012.
He was expected to be briefed by US commanders in Afghanistan, speak to troops at Bagram and visit injured troops being treated at a base hospital.He was expected to be briefed by US commanders in Afghanistan, speak to troops at Bagram and visit injured troops being treated at a base hospital.
As is typical of recent presidential trips to war zones, the White House did not announce Obama's visit in advance. Media travelling with Obama for the 13-hour flight had to agree to keep the trip secret until the president arrived at the air base.As is typical of recent presidential trips to war zones, the White House did not announce Obama's visit in advance. Media travelling with Obama for the 13-hour flight had to agree to keep the trip secret until the president arrived at the air base.
Obama has staked much of his foreign policy philosophy on ending the two wars he inherited from his predecessor, George W Bush.Obama has staked much of his foreign policy philosophy on ending the two wars he inherited from his predecessor, George W Bush.
The final American troops withdrew from Iraq in the closing days of 2011, after the US and Iraq failed to reach a security agreement to keep a small American residual force in the country. In the years that have followed the American withdrawal, Iraq has been battered by resurgent waves of violence.The final American troops withdrew from Iraq in the closing days of 2011, after the US and Iraq failed to reach a security agreement to keep a small American residual force in the country. In the years that have followed the American withdrawal, Iraq has been battered by resurgent waves of violence.
US officials say they are trying to avoid a similar scenario in Afghanistan. While combat forces are due to depart at the end of this year, Obama administration officials have pressed to keep some troops in Afghanistan after 2014 to continue training the Afghan security forces and undertake counterterrorism missions.US officials say they are trying to avoid a similar scenario in Afghanistan. While combat forces are due to depart at the end of this year, Obama administration officials have pressed to keep some troops in Afghanistan after 2014 to continue training the Afghan security forces and undertake counterterrorism missions.
Pentagon officials have pushed for as many as 10,000 troops; others in the administration favour as few as 5,000. 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.Pentagon officials have pushed for as many as 10,000 troops; others in the administration favour as few as 5,000. 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.
By skipping a meeting with Karzai while in Afghanistan, Obama is signalling that the White House has already discounted the Afghan president as a worthwhile partner. By skipping a meeting with Karzai while in Afghanistan, Obama is signalling that the White House has already discounted the Afghan president as a worthwhile partner.
Karzai, the only president Afghans have known since the 2001 US-led invasion to topple the Taliban, was constitutionally barred from running for a third term this year. An election to choose his successor was held this month, with the top two candidates advancing to a June runoff.Karzai, the only president Afghans have known since the 2001 US-led invasion to topple the Taliban, was constitutionally barred from running for a third term this year. An election to choose his successor was held this month, with the top two candidates advancing to a June runoff.
Both of those candidates, the former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, have promised a fresh start with the west and pledged to move ahead with the security pact with the US.Both of those candidates, the former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-finance minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, have promised a fresh start with the west and pledged to move ahead with the security pact with the US.