(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) US President Barack Obama made an unplanned visit to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan Sunday to visit US troops and leaders on the weekend of the Memorial Day holiday that honors US soldiers that have died in war.
According to reporters that were with the President, he met with US Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham and Marine Corps General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force.
Dunford gave the President a battlefield update and the President also discussed US troop levels for the NATO follow-on operation 'Resolute Support' and other post-2014 plans.
Obama told reporters, "The main reason I took this trip is to make sure that everybody knows as we come into Memorial Day weekend that we are aware of the sacrifices that so many have made in Afghanistan." A statement from a White House official indicated that Afghan President Hamid Karzai was invited to come to Bagram. "But we're not surprised that it didn't work on short notice," said the statement.
The statement affirmed that Obama will be speaking with Karzai by phone in the coming days and "looks forward to working with Afghanistan's next President after the election is complete." After a concert for the a group of about 3,000 troops by country singer, Brad Paisley, Obama took the stage to speak to the soldiers.
He told them, "We support you, we are proud of you, we stand in awe of your service." Obama reiterated to the troops, "Everybody knows Afghanistan is still a very dangerous place. But just look at the progress you have made possible - Afghans reclaiming their communities, girls going to schools, increases in life expectancy." He noted that if the BSA (Bilateral Security Agreement) is signed, the US can begin planning for a "limited military presence." This was Obama's fourth trip to Afghanistan since taking office. He is now on his way back to Washington, according to the Pentagon.
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