by Kim Barker and John McCormick
KABUL, Afghanistan - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama arrived Saturday in this war-torn country seen as crucial to his foreign policy, but most Afghans did not notice.
Security for the two-day visit of the congressional delegation was so tight, all of Obama's plans were kept secret. On Saturday, he met with U.S. officials at Bagram Air Base and visited soldiers in eastern Afghanistan. Although many Afghans seem intrigued by the Illinois senator, few will meet him, let alone catch a glimpse.
The delegation briefly visited troops in Kuwait, but the Afghanistan leg is the first lengthy stop of a much-hyped international journey designed to make Obama seem more presidential both on the world stage and at home. The trip also aims to counter critics who say Obama has little foreign-policy experience compared to his Republican opponent, John McCain, a Vietnam War hero with an extensive foreign background.
Afghanistan is a crucial part of this trip, especially since Obama has said the U.S. should start pulling troops from Iraq and instead focus on militants in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders are thought to be hiding.
"If Afghans had a chance to vote for president in America, they would vote for Obama," said Fahim Dashty, the editor of the Kabul Weekly and a political analyst.
Obama recently criticized Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his government for not getting out of the bunker to help Afghanistan develop.
The capital Kabul shows just where the country is, almost seven years after the fall of the Taliban. There are more than 4 million people, about 600,000 cars, patchy roads and one traffic light. City power is only available for a few hours a night, if at all - unless a customer bribes the power company or is an important official. Suicide bombs, once a rarity, are now common, along with spectacular militant attacks.
Recent assessments of the war in Afghanistan have been grim. In June, U.S. and allied troops suffered their highest number of casualties since the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001. The death toll was higher in Afghanistan than Iraq in both May and June.
At the end of June, the Pentagon also issued a 72-page report saying that violence in Afghanistan would continue to rise and that the conflict required more resources and attention. The report also said the greatest challenge to long-term security in Afghanistan is the insurgent sanctuary in Pakistan's neighboring tribal areas.
U.S. and Afghan troops also recently pulled out of a remote base in eastern Kunar province, where militants had killed nine U.S. soldiers.
Both Obama and McCain have said recently that more attention needs to be focused on Afghanistan.
Obama's trip is the first time a U.S. presidential candidate has gone on such a heavily orchestrated and publicized international road show. He will meet with foreign leaders and U.S. officials overseas and attract extensive media attention everywhere he goes. Obama is not expected to announce any policy decisions, and his every word will likely be carefully parsed, to avoid any of the foreign-policy gaffes made in the past.
The congressional delegation, paid for by taxpayers, is also expected to visit Iraq and meet with Iraqi leader Nouri al-Maliki. On the campaign trail, Obama has said withdrawing U.S. troops would force al-Maliki to improve his government.
Separately, in a campaign-funded trip, Obama plans to visit Europe and the Middle East.
This is Obama's first visit to Afghanistan, although he has made the country a priority in his run for president. Barnett Rubin, a New York University professor considered to be one of the world's top Afghan experts, is advising Obama's campaign on Afghanistan. He declined to be interviewed, saying he could not speak on behalf of Obama.
Obama has only visited Iraq once, in early 2006. McCain, an Arizona senator, has visited Afghanistan four times and Iraq eight times since 2000.
The trip is also meant to highlight Obama's new foreign policy strategy outlined in a lengthy speech on Tuesday. Obama believes more diplomacy is needed, and that Afghanistan is the central front on the war on terror, not Iraq.
Obama said he wants to draw down U.S. troops in Iraq, end the war there responsibly and send two more brigades, or about 7,000 troops, to Afghanistan. There are now about 36,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. In his speech, Obama also said he wanted to take the fight to Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, saying that it was unacceptable that the terrorists responsible for planning the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were still at large.
On Thursday, Obama told two reporters, one from the Chicago Tribune and one from the Associated Press, that he looked forward to seeing what the situation on the ground was in Afghanistan and Iraq and thanking the troops.
"I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking, and I think it's very important to recognize that I'm going over there as a U.S. senator," Obama told the reporters, who accompanied him to his departure from Andrews Air Force Base. "We have one president at a time."
Obama and his traveling companions, Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., landed at Bagram Air Base just before noon Saturday, sources said. They later flew to visit a provincial reconstruction team at the U.S. base near the eastern city of Jalalabad. U.S. officials said they were not allowed to talk about the visit until after the delegation left.
The three were expected to meet on Sunday with Karzai, Afghan officials said.
Media availability in Afghanistan was allegedly limited to one interview with a CBS reporter and possibly a photo opportunity with Karzai.
On the street, Afghans were excited to hear that Obama was in town - even though some didn't even know his name. "I've heard of this tall, young, black guy," said Mohammad Ayub, 39, who sells cookies in Kabul. "People say good things about him, that he will do good for Afghanistan."
The Afghanistan United National Front - an opposition political party that is a motley coalition of former and current strongmen, from anti-Soviet warlords to ex-Communist leaders - has endorsed Obama, largely because of his desire to send in more troops and because he is seen as different than Bush.
"Anyone who hears the name Bush just thinks of fighting, bombing, Osama bin Laden and war," said Sayed Agha Hussain Sancharaki, spokesman for the National Front. "Anyone who hears the name Obama thinks peace, prosperity, compromise and stability."
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Comments
And us taxpayers are picking up the million + dollar tab for this Obama photo op.
Perhaps some real journalist will ask Obama these 2 questions:
1) How much is this trip costing the taxpayers?
2) Why are Muslims so eager to back him?
Posted by: Bruce | July 19, 2008 10:54 AM
As far as Afghanis are concerned, he's just another suit, I think.
However, note to staff: don't let him try on any "native attire".
Posted by: ornery | July 19, 2008 10:55 AM
No matter what he does now, he did not want to go. McCain shamed him into going. Obama does not care about the U.S. or it's soldiers. Obama should be ashamed. First he lies about Wright. Then he lies about Campaign Finance. He lied about Rezko. And now he is only going to Afgan or Iraq because he was shamed by McCain. Obama shows the his lack of Judgment and experience is a flaw that most Americans will not like in November. Oh well, Americans deserve a President with some Military Experience. God Bless the United States. God Bless our Military. And God help us if Barack Hussein Obama gets elected.
Posted by: Jerry | July 19, 2008 11:04 AM
And God help us if Barack Hussein Obama gets elected.
Posted by: Jerry | July 19, 2008 11:04 AM
Nice rant...and yes I think God will help us once we get the cowboys out of office.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | July 19, 2008 11:36 AM
Bruce,
If an award is ever awarded for the self-serving rhetorical question - you will be the hands down winner.
J.W.,
The first thing McSame ought to be ashamed about is taking money from KKKarl Rove who smeared him and his family in South Carolina in 2000. McSame is the biggest political whore to come along in a long time. The Dubya hugger has no shame.
Barack Obama,
Has been right about Iraq and Afghanistan from the get go.
Posted by: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | July 19, 2008 11:36 AM
What's with the fearful people posting messages?
To Bruce re: question 1 - and the taxpayers did not pay for Mr McCain's photo-ops to the same countries?
to #2. Why are you so fearful of Muslims? Isn't it the Islamic extremists that you should be looking out for?
Wake-up America to the republican rhetoric. This is he future and downfall of America if we do not call for "change" in November.
Posted by: Ron Wheeler | July 19, 2008 11:37 AM
The trip is to make Obama seem more presidential. That's kinda it in a nutshell. Just some more lipstick on the pig.
Posted by: Roy | July 19, 2008 11:43 AM
To make him "seem" more presidential? Nice try.
Posted by: naschkatzehussein | July 19, 2008 11:49 AM
Kim Barker and John McCormick write: "The delegation briefly visited troops in Kuwait, but the Afghanistan leg is the first lengthy stop of a much-hyped international journey designed to make Obama seem more presidential both on the world stage and at home."
But I thought Obama wasn't going there for a dog-and-pony show, like McSame did in Iraq. That's what O's biggest fans on this site and elsewhere told us earlier this week. Seems that's not the case after all, is it, Obamaphiles? Do you think he might find his sense of humor somewhere over there? Maybe next to the mythical WMDs?
Posted by: JB | July 19, 2008 11:49 AM
Oh, and Whiskey Tango, Joe Biden disagrees with you about Obama being right about Afghanistan "all along." I know he says so now that we're all extras in the Broadway production of Everyone Loves Barack, but that wasn't the case when Obama was running a distant second to Hillary. Remember those days? When your "Always Right" candidate was a "Johnny Come Lately" on Afghanistan? No, you've probably blocked that out.
Posted by: JB | July 19, 2008 11:52 AM
Ron
The difference is that McCain has traveled to the Middle East on several occasions and did not use it as a campign (sp) tool. Obama the Unqualified is using it not to gather information to use in his job as a Senator but to further Obama. Obama could care less about the Middle East, and our Troops.
Posted by: Obama the Unqualified | July 19, 2008 11:58 AM
He is using taxpayer's dollars just like McBush did...
Posted by: ksdksdksd | July 19, 2008 12:01 PM
Obama's trip is "a much-hyped international journey designed to make Obama seem more presidential both on the world stage and at home". Yes, it's hyped indeed. This is the FIRST time that Obama goes to Afghanistan, so it seems like most of his so-called "foreign policy" so far has been created from the comfort of his living room. If Afghanistan is the cornerstone of Obama's foreign policy, then why does it take him so long to visit the country, and then, only for a couple of days? If this Obama's MO for the rest of his presidential flatform then God help us. This man is not qualified to the president of the US and it shows, everyday!
Posted by: Ryan | July 19, 2008 12:05 PM
Bruce, regarding your outrage about public financing of Obama's trip, why don't we add up the tab of McCain's EIGHT trips to Iraq and FOUR trips to Afghanistan. Where is your outrage about the taxpayer financing of all these trips? Oh yeah, you're just another right-wing flamethrower who doesn't have time to think.
Posted by: Kevin C. | July 19, 2008 12:05 PM
Bruce, regarding your outrage about public financing of Obama's trip, why don't we add up the tab of McCain's EIGHT trips to Iraq and FOUR trips to Afghanistan. Where is your outrage about the taxpayer financing of all these trips? Oh yeah, you're just another right-wing flamethrower who doesn't have time to think.
Posted by: Kevin C. | July 19, 2008 12:05 PM
Jerry,
While you seem to be an intelligent, atriculate man you aren't very bright! The Obama camp has been planning a trip for some time, it just wasn't publicized, likely for security purposes. You talk about lack of judgement and experience but your OK with Bush! Do you know who attacked us on 9/11? Are you aware that it wasn't the Iraqies? Are you also aware that there wasn't a single Iraqi involved? Bush has been lying to the world since he took (stole) office. Are you OK with that? This country needs a new direction; a fresh face with a new perspective. McBush is just another GOP clone and I really don't think the US would fare well with 4 more years of the same old, same old.
Perhaps if you can get past his skin color and look at the man you may be pleasantly surprised. Good luck Jerry, you'll need it!
Posted by: Mr. Wright | July 19, 2008 12:33 PM
it is very good to Obama visite Afghanistan .... i thank it is well be green light for peace in the erea.....
Posted by: NAjib | July 19, 2008 12:44 PM
You did notice that Iraq's Prime Minister has endorsed Obama's plan for Iraqi withdrawal, didn't you?
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSL198009020080719
Posted by: Ron S | July 19, 2008 12:50 PM
I'm an independent and I'm glad BHO went over and, yes, the gov should pay for it. At least now he'll get a first hand look at everything and hopefully develop informed opinions about what needs to happen. Until now, he's done nothing but the typical left-wing "disagree with everything" approach which gets so old and solves nothing. We'll see if he really learns anything or continues to be a wet rag for the bleeding left.
Posted by: John | July 19, 2008 1:58 PM
OBAMA THE UNQUALIFIED: JUST WHO VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HELP RETURNING VETS???? ...NOW, WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE TROOPS????? WE ALL KNOW THAT ACTIONS SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN WORDS!!!!
Posted by: Mary Dawson | July 19, 2008 2:05 PM
Everyone knows this is a campaign trip. Will Obama do the right thing and reimburse the treasury from his vast political fund? I am sure that he agrees that ordinary tax payers should not have to bear this burden even if other politicians do it. He will not use the teenagers excuse that everyone else does it. He is too evolved for that. He will not hide behind senatorial privilege because then he would just be another political hack. You'll see. Lead the way Barack!
Posted by: Percy Jones | July 19, 2008 2:18 PM
I hope he will find an answer to the questions of government´s opposition.
Posted by: giovanni | July 19, 2008 2:50 PM
Notice how not even the Obama-lovers here are trying to defend the waste of taxpayer dollars on this photo op trip?
Posted by: Bruce | July 19, 2008 5:10 PM
Bruce
Do you think any of the reporters have the guts to ask as to who is picking up the tab for the trip--
Posted by: George | July 19, 2008 10:05 PM
George, "reporters" is just another way of saying "Obama Campaign Staff".
Posted by: Bruce | July 20, 2008 11:43 AM
Jerry 11:04am You said it perfectly!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Wright 12:33PM If he knew he was going to go ahead of time, why on earth did he give all this info on a pull out in Iraq just days prior to him arriving there?? I think you are mistaken!
Posted by: Teresa | July 21, 2008 12:32 PM