A prediction: President Obama will add a "surprise" visit to Afghanistan to his Olympics-lobbying trip to Copenhagen. The president and his advisers must realize, in Mark McKinnon's words, that "people elected Obama to be president--not the head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce," that a large part of being president is being commander-in-chief, and that it's not good that Obama appears to have plenty of time for everything--David Letterman, Democratic fundraisers, Olympics-lobbying jaunts--except Afghanistan, just as he's about to decide whether to commit tens of thousands more troops there. In addition, Obama's never been to Afghanistan as president, and--we now know--apparently has spoken to General Stanley McChrystal only once by video-teleconference since McChrystal assumed command there. David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel aren't stupid: Expect to see Barack Obama get on the plane after his session with the International Olympics Committee at mid-day Friday Copenhagen time, and be in Afghanistan with our troops five hours later, in time for the evening news Friday here in the U.S.
William Kristol
Obama to Afghanistan?
A prediction: President Obama will add a "surprise" visit to Afghanistan to his Olympics-lobbying trip to Copenhagen. The president and his advisers must realize, in Mark McKinnon's words, that "people elected Obama to be president--not the head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce," that a large…
William Kristol · September 29, 2009
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