Obama Lands in Afghanistan, Will Visit Iraq
Journalists were asked by the Obama campaign to hold off from reporting that Obama would visit Afghanistan and Iraq prior to his trip abroad next week until he landed safely in the region — which his campaign informed us early this morning that he has.
While a small “pool” of reporters was permitted to document his journey from Chicago to Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday, none made the journey abroad with Obama and Senators Reed and Hagael, as their visit is classified as a “Congressional Delegation,” funded by taxpayers.
The following email was received by reporters at 3:24am Eastern Daylight Time.
__
At approximately 3:15 AM Eastern/2:15 AM Central, I received a phone call telling me that Senator Obama had landed at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Since leaving Washington on Thursday, Senator Obama had stopped and visited troops in Kuwait.
What follows is a pool report by the Chicago Tribune’s John McCormick.
===================================
Background:
This is a pool report for July 17 for flight from Chicago’s Midway Airport to Washington’s Reagan National Airport, followed by motorcade to Andrews Air Force Base. All times are local for the geography mentioned. Please note that the campaign said it would be holding this for distribution until it confirmed Sen. Obama was on the ground in Afghanistan.
Report:
The motorcade left Sen. Obama’s home in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood at 11:11 a.m. There was one Chicago Police Department patrol car, followed by two SUVs, a sedan and a press van. Riding in the press van were agent Jill, Sam, John McCormick of the Chicago Tribune and Glen Johnson of The Associated Press.
The motorcade headed north on Lake Shore Drive to I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) and toward MDW. The CPD blocked traffic for our turn onto the western perimeter of the airfield, where we arrived at 11:31 a.m.
Waiting on the tarmac was a Gulfstream III (G3) executive jet (tail number N366JA). We exited our respective vehicles at 11:34 a.m.
The crew was waiting outside for the senator’s arrival and a few photos with him near a wing. He was wearing tan slacks and a short black jacket. After fishing around in the back of one of the SUVs for his luggage (he seemed especially to be checking his suits inside a garment bag), he was on the bird by 11:36 a.m.
Also getting on the plane were eight Secret Service agents and the two reporters. The senator briefly greeted us as we walked past his seat in the forward section. Seated near him was senior spokeswoman Linda Douglass, the only staff member on the flight.
After everyone found a seat on the crowded plane, the pilot announced that the flying time would be between 80 and 85 minutes. All seemed eager for him to start the engines, since the plane had been sitting under a hot sun and the cabin temperature was likely somewhere in the 90s. Sweat had begun to roll down the faces of some of the agents.
“We’re just easing you into it,” Obama told his bodyguards, referring to the heat and the desert weather they would all be traveling to in the coming days.
As the plane taxied, the senator, wearing a short-sleeve black shirt, chatted with Douglass. The plane was wheels up at 11:55 a.m.
Your pool asked Douglass if we could chat with the senator about his upcoming trip. She said she would check, but later told us that we would only get a brief chance to ask him a couple questions once at Reagan National Airport.
Janis, our stewardess, first served the senator his lunch (chicken and rice and broccoli). Everyone else had sandwiches, wraps, chips and candy (yes, just like on the bus), although we were served on china and given green place settings and cloth napkins.
As the plane peaked around 41,000 feet and 500 knots, according to the computer screen tracking our location at the front of the cabin, the senator read a copy of the Wall Street Journal. Johnson had claimed an aisle seat and reported that he first read a story about off-shore oil drilling and then one about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
By the time we were descending, at 17,000 feet, he had switched to the New York Times, spending most of his time in the Sports and Arts sections.
We were wheels down at 2:17 p.m. local and parked with the engines off by 2:24 p.m.
After getting off the plane, Douglass said there was time for “one question,” adding, “Then, we’re making him leave. He’s behind [schedule].”
Your pool, with the noise of the jet’s engines in the background, quickly asked what two or three things Obama was hoping to learn on this mission.
“Well, I’m looking forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is,” he said. “I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense, both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what the most, ah, their biggest concerns are. And I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they’ve been doing.”
Then, the senator was asked whether he plans to deliver some tough talk to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki about doing more to stand up the instruments of self-governance in their own nations.
“Well, you know, I’m more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking,” he said. “And I think it is very important to recognize that I’m going over there as a U.S. senator. We have one president at a time, so it’s the president’s job to deliver those messages.”
By 2:32 p.m., the motorcade was rolling. This one included two local police cars, three SUVs, a Honda Accord, a minivan equipped with lights and sirens and another local patrol car. We were off the DCA property by 2:36 p.m.
Your pool was in the Honda with Douglass. It was driven by Molly Buford, who works in Obama’s senator office and also for the campaign.
The motorcade traveled I-395 to I-295 and then on to the Suitland Parkway, entering a northern entrance of Andrews Air Force Base at 2:57 p.m.
We passed several military helicopters and planes before arriving at 3:01 p.m. near an aircraft that had no markings, with the exception of an American flag on the tail. This was the plane that would transport the congressional delegation to their destination. A ground crew member told us it was a Boeing C-40C.
The senator greeted several military personnel waiting for him near the plane. He was carrying a laptop bag and had changed into some brown leather boots upon arrival in Washington.
The senator was also greeted by Mark Lippert, foreign policy advisor in his senate office. Douglass said he was the only member of Obama’s staff traveling with him on the congressional delegation trip. Douglass later told your pool that Lippert had returned in the late spring from a tour of duty in Iraq as a naval reservist.
By 3:03 p.m., the senator was on the aircraft, having been saluted by a member of the military on his way aboard. At 3:09 p.m., the plane’s door was closed. Four minutes later it was in motion and wheels up at 3:17 p.m., taking off to the south.
Later, Douglass confirmed that Sens. Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel were on the plane before our arrival. Your pool had not seen them at Andrews.
– John McCormick, Chicago Tribune.
ROBERT GIBBS
Senior Strategist for Communications and Message
Obama for America
Tags: Afghanistan, Iraq, obama
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I suppose we’re now going to be treated to an hourly discussion of the self-ordained -messiah’s
world tour. I guess this is supposed to make him look “presidential” and also give him an understanding of world affairs.How transparent. If we’re lucky the Afghans will love him, appoint him as their president, and leave the rest of alone to enjoy some peace and quiet without his rantings. One trip does not an expert make.
Obama is a coward. If he gets elected the worlds thugs will be let loose. They have no fear of him, they know he is weak and clueless.
With Obama out of the country, watch for McCain to withdraw troops from Czechoslovakia and create a surge in Canada.
Way to go Barack, may your trip be safe and fruitful.
i can see that you have no sense of national security when it comes down to describing in detail of obama’s motorcade, times and places, and even the type of jet with the tail number on it… you’ve got to be freaking kidding me….
reporters like you are going to get people killed…
Why did McSame announced yesterday that President Obama was going to be in Iraq and Afghanistan this weekend. It was a secret due to security reasons. Did McSame announced this so someone out there would harm President Obama? How low can you go on this. When McSame visited Iraq, noone in President Obama’s camp came out an announced where he would be prior to his arrival there. Win at any cost.
God bless President Obama and bring him home safely.
big deal trip for this bozo…..on the job training at taxpayers expense…enjoy oboybama…did the troops put you on the winning basketball team when you got there…know you enjoyed that game as you enjoy all the games you play…noticed you used you know and ahh mmm already and you hardly had left the airport….lol your one big joke..a fake and a fraud…i hear michelle is at home packing for the move to the big house…..oooops i mean white house
I think this trip is worth a bump of about 10 pts when Obama returns. McCain’s camp is worried about Americans seeing the excitement and enthusiam of Europeans in the streets hoping America will no get this election wrong… http://www.enewsreference.com
By 3:03 p.m., the senator was on the aircraft, having been saluted by a member of the military on his way aboard.
Why would he get this when he is NOT comander in chief? Is this like his very own presedential seal? So all of us are paying for this bozo to get some foreigh policy experience -WOW this makes sense. I can only shake my head to think all you clowns out there who fall for this. Where is his experience to actually run this country and not run it into the ground. More taxes, and lots of freebees for the ones not willing to work is what you will get with this pretend to care canidate. I have never seen a candidate so stuck on himself in my life. The candidate should be concerned about what they can do for us as a whole country not just what their personal race is.
How about we put all these Politicians on the front lines give them a M16 and tell them to lead our troops into battle..That way they can really get a perfect view of the war and see for themselves what our guys and gals go through..Obamas going over there to look and talk is a joke and a Political move to try to become president..YANKEE TRADER
Why is Barack Obama in Afghanistan ? Are politics that important ? That you have to put your life on the line, to prove to the world, or mostly the American public, that by visiting Afghanistan, you’ll leave there with more knowledge of war and be a better Commander in Chief. C’mon…
I find it a little reckless and disturbing that *Senator* Barack Obama has been egged on to travel to the Middle East and put his life and the future of America, in danger.
petes2cents.com
Obama is mickey mouse.
You elect this character
and you get the government
you deserve.
“Photo Op’s” do not experience make…
Obama’s visit is just a ploy to make him look like he knows what he has been guessing about when it comes to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let it be known that his team has already done some front work to find him the soliders needed to make him look like he would be a good commander in chief. By that I mean, soliders who have admitted that they will be voting for him and who share his same ideas, thoughts and mannerisms. I personnally would not follow him and his liberal actions as far as I can throw him. My neighbor had the right idea and I am think about the same, sell my house and move out of this country because it is going to go to hell in a hand basket. I will not live in a county that is stupid enough to vote for a socialist government.
What’s up with the right, always saying Hitler gave good speeches? Are the trying to draw a parallel between Obama and Hitler? Is it not easier to draw that parallel to McCain with his Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran statements? The statement he made saying that tobacco was one way of killing the Iranians; some would argue that these are statements from a mad man.
I sincerely wish and pray that God will bless, guard and protect you (Obama) and your entourage in this find finding mission. The Lord open His face and lead you out of trouble.
Another one of GOD world mission.
Go Barack1
Sure, have us taxpayers pay for this trip, very clever Obama.
“Change you can’t believe in!” Obama is not changing American politics, he is changing his political campaign. Welcome to the middle, Barack - if we can suspend credible belief!
An uncofirmed source is reporting that Obama will call for an unconditional American defeat in Afghanistan as he did in Iraq prior to the success of the surge (which he opposed).
He’s not WRIGHT for America. http://www.notwrightforamerica.com
The more I listen to this guy the more I’m concerned for our troops and the economy at home. He’s such a good actor. This guy preaches hope to a bunch of people who’ve never held themselves accountable for anything. Also, he expects all of his followers to help while in the White House? Good luck! He’s the biggest phony in the world.
I hope they keep him over there. He is so arrogant he reminds me of George Bush.
flippity flop flippity flop there goes obama wherever the wind oges there he goes… no obama
mccain 08
You are all complaining about Obama going with two fellow senators to Europe on tax payers dollars. But none of you realize that McCain hasn’t been at any of the Senate votes in the last year. So what is worse paying for one trip or having a guy that is working for free, getting payed to go to Columbia. What a bunch of racist ignorant people. Same as trying to say Obama refers to himself as a Messiah, when he has never done so. Course unless you count the fact he cares about the people of this country and isn’t trying to blow smoke up your @ss while flip-flopping at every turn (like McSame).
Let it be known that the only person that appears to out of step on the war is McCain. Maybe after his eight visits to Iraq he is incapable of deciphering the info. McCain may just not have the judgment to guide America through a war. Age may have consumed McCain’s better judgment.
Has anyone noticed that not one of our elected professional politicians has done one thing of substance in the last 26 years to prevent this problem from destroying us today?
too busy being elected - grabbing power - gaining wealth - GREED.
And now instead of doing what is needed - they spend their time
getting elected - grabbing power - gaining wealth - GREED !
There is NO Person in the congress, the senate, or presidential administration that pumps, and pays for their own gas ( the taxpayer does ) worries about having enough money/gas to get to work the next day, cannot find a mortgage loan, buys less food for their family due to rising pricees, has to choose between heat for their home(s) and medicine, due to absurd health insurance costs, ( again the taxpayer pays ) - These employees of the taxpayer ALL live in a different world - where “concern” for these situations, ‘other’ Americans find themselves in daily, is as close to the fact, as they ever get. When did this transformation happen? (50s)
(60s) (70s) ??? Why: GREED We the people of the United States of America NEED to have a government ‘OF’ real People, ‘FOR’ the people again or we the people will not make it.
Then the country will contain only “the government” “their families” and “their friends”
Fox-this is what I posted on CNN. They wouldn’t accept it. (they say it got “moderated” ) it never showed up. Why is that? Here ya go:
I’m an independent voter. That being said~~~
OK you Obamites. Go ahead-get him in office. Didn’t obama flip-flop already when originally he wanted to pull us out of Iraq AND Afghanistan; (He said “Bring ALL our troops home”)… Now he’s preaching a surge in Afghan instead? Are you kidding me? Is this his “change” he’s been touting? Seems to me he changes agendas four times the amount of McCain.
Remember Obamites-A presidential election is every 48 months. If history repeats itself (and it will) Obama’s “change” initiative will have such a negative impact on our domestic & foreign policies that I even doubt he’ll last the first 48 without being impeached. Also-the Dems are in control of congress as of two years already. What good has become of that? Ziltch.. And if & when Obama gets in it will be four times the Ziltch.
“If everyone is thinking the same thing, than-somebody isn’t thinking” –General George Patten
**I’ll be posting this on FOX as well, because CNN doesn’t seem to post much of anything that isn’t pro-obama. That’s what it all about, Huh CNN?
You folks need to get the name right. . .it’s not “GOD” bless Obama. . .it’s “Allah” bless Obama. GOD and Allah are not one and the same, THANK GOD!
I still want to listen to Obama in a series of UNREHEARSED debates. Apparently even he doesn’t think he would fare well. The “debates” we have all been subjected to for the past several years are meerly SHAMS. A total waste of television time. . .go to any college or high school debate and you won’t find scripts.
Obama’s “handlers” are trying to be very careful in keeping him from showing us his “real” self.
ob08
You are a dolt! Senator McCain didn’t say anything that was not already known. Do you not dig for truth or do you just listen to the MSM? It was announced last week that Senator Obama was going to Afghanistan. Stop drinking the koolaid long enough to look for facts.
Besides, With the “million media army” he’s packing nothing will happen to the good Senator from Illinois. They will shield him from all danger.
I’m voting for SOCIALISM SUCKS IN 08
I was just sitting here reading the comments that are fine Americans posted and it seems to amaze me that everyone keeps missing the point and how important this election is…. We are in the beginning (trust me the economy as yet to hit bottom) of a economical war within our own borders and seems that no one really cares…I wish we would have a candidate that would just stand up there and tell us the truth that we are all **** and we must all work together to resolve our own economy by becoming more dependent with our own resources and stop playing this game of trying to resolve the worlds problems…If we want to continue to be the so call “SUPER POWER COUNTRY”, START ACTING LIKE IT AND TAKE CARE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE….McCain needs to really come out stronger and tell the American people that our economy is and should be the presidents number one priority… Obama needs to get out of his high horse and start telling the truth to the American people instead of living in a fantasy world, he might think that we are stupid, but come November the joke will be on him…They both need alot of work, but rather vote experience then fantasy…
Dem. for McCain 08
Sounds like some awfully angry/jealouw people on this blog.
Why are we complaining? Sure this will help Obama. But as soon as this is over, the media will obliterate him. Obama will have to walk on eggshells. I might vote for McCain but I’m starting to like this new guy. The fact that the McCain camp and Fox news demanded that Obama go to Iraq is completely ignored. Now that Obama has gone to Iraq, McCain is shooting himself in the foot. It’s McCain’s own fault that he keeps bumbling and falling over himself at every turn. Prior to Obama’s trip, the media was more focused on McCain and McCain blew it. Just one mistake after another. Someone needs to help McCain before we lose this race. The future does not look to good.
If I were to read a dictionary from cover to cover would I then know a lot about everything ever written?
Unfortunately we do not have much of a choice…I’ll go with experience.
Really people! Both sides have succeeded in turning us against each other to mask the fact that our Country is being taken away from us slowly. What I am reading is banter from a bunch of undereducated people. You are not dumb, you just have to learn to think for yourselves. We need to throw away our party loyalties, and start uniting this country or we will lose it. It’s all in the history books. Read and learn folks.
I am sure we all care about this wonderful country as I do. It is time to elect plain citizens at the local level & work our way up. There is nothing wrong with being rich, but with wealth and poverty come apathy in most cases. Why do you think the middle class is fading? Our culture and heritage is being sucked out of us as I write. Our economy is not that bad. Gas prices are not that bad. We have it pretty good here. Most of us get ourselves into the messes we are in. Well time to stand up. Men need to MAN UP. We all need to wake up. Please, for our own sake and survival.
Why does the Iraqi government support Obama’s plan?
Looks like Mccain is the wrong choice for America!
I have and I also have watched as less than nothing has been done that does not benifit the Dems. I hear everyone yell how Bush vetoed the military bill this year, it was $162 million with $621 million in pork attached, wonder why Bush vetoed it? Does any one out there get it yet? The congress we have pass a bill for $100 to $200 million but have two to three times as much in pork attached. Anyone see a problem there with our country so deep in debt? If that same $621 million was used to correct the banking or the morgages for pepole we would not have half the problems we do, so far they have spent over $17 billion in pork this year on 6 bills. 17 billion would cut gas prices down if the oil industry was suplimented for we the people. Congress has become spend happy and it does not look like it is going to stop anytime soon. 17 billion is alot of our tax dollars going for them to buy votes and solisit campaign contributions. It is not to benifit us but to benifit them. Wake up before they completely destroy our country, and remember Obama wants congress to spend more. We are already borrowing from China to pay our debts so China will soon own our country. Is that what we want?
Do I think Obama is going to Afghanistan and Iraq to assess conditions on the ground? No, I do not.
Why would he make a policy statement prior to going if the purpose of his visit was to make a genuine assessment? It’s obvious. I suspect his real purpose in going is to show the world, not only the U.S., that he IS the next president of the U.S. This is a completely staged event for that purpose. It makes John McCain look irrelevant and inconsequential and it makes Obama appear presidential. Smart move? Absolutely. Will it work? Only if the American people swallow the hype and allow themselves to be conned once again by the Chicago Cool One. If Obama gets elected, the American public will suffer on all fronts but the greatest affront will be to our integrity; we will no longer possess any.
Can you imagine what the enemy mind set might be, if for even a day, this country would stand united and let the world know that we would move ahead as one force, one nation, one goal…
There would be NO war or very short battles -
divided we get what we have now!
lucky us…
Can any one ask Obama why is it that of all of the film and photo ops he had to visit with the troops, why only the black troops showed up for his events? Having served 24 years active duty, I know there is an almost equal distribution of races in the military. I also know that events such as his are voluntary, so, where is the voluntary white troops showing up to support him? Does this show that Obama is not recognised as a leader the military trusts? There is no slant to this, all it takes is some one to sit down and review all of the film and photo ops he had with troops that were not in formation, that were willing to see him on their own time. This is a serious problem Obama has and will have. That is my question I would like to see debated.
I just finished reading Faith of My Fathers by John McCain. In it he discusses the honor of his family in their extensive military service. He is a very noble and extremely tough man in his service to our country and POW survivor. It’s horrific what he has survived for his country & has to be upstaged by this very UNQUALIFIED and arrogant Obhamas twit. GOD BLESS JOHN McCAIN & hope he selects MITT ROMNEY as VP.
LOUIE, LOUIE - EXCELLENT!!! WELL STATED!!! Yes why are these senators getting paid when they are applying for another job??? Can any of us to do that on our company time??? It’s RIDICULOUS!!!!! Although for socialists Pelosi, Reid, Obhamas, Shrill……we are GLAD when they don’t try to pass a bunch of dumb stuff & are so generous with OUR $$$$$$!!!!