Obama's Afghanistan Trip: Troops and Karzai

After word got out that Obama had made a secret trip to Afghanistan under the cover of darkness, reports came flooding in of how his trip went.

This was the first trip to Afghanistan for Obama as president, and he wasted no time in his mission. Strongly urging President Karzai to handle the corruption in his country, Obama also invited Karzai back to the States for a White House visit on May 12. Speaking not only on the so far unfulfilled promises to clean up corruption, Obama also addressed the need for Karzai to work on stemming the drug trafficking that provides terrorist groups with funding.

Obama then visited Bagram to rally the troops stationed over there and express his thanks and support for all their hard work, urging them to continue to keep the Taliban forces at bay and to stop Al Quaeda.

Speaking to US and NATO troops at the base, Obama said, "Our strategy includes a military effort that takes the fight to the Taliban while creating the conditions for greater security and a transition to the Afghans. But also a civilian effort that improves the daily lives of the Afghan people and combats corruption, and a partnership with Pakistan and its people, because we can't uproot extremists and advance security and opportunity unless we succeed on both sides of the border."

Giving praise and encouragement to the troops was both needed and helpful. After Obama left the base to return to the States, Bagram was under mortar attack, but NATO reported no casualties. Perhaps the President was smart in leaving in the darkness before dawn to cover his departure.