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October 29, 2009 6:48 PM

Katie Couric's Notebook: Obama at Dover

Posted by Katie Couric

As President Obama weighs difficult decisions about how to proceed in Afghanistan, in the early hours of the morning he saw the ultimate consequence of the war.

The president arrived at Dover Air Force Base just after midnight to witness the arrival and transfer of 18 Americans killed in action. Those 15 soldiers and three drug enforcement agents were among 55 Americans killed in October, making this the deadliest month since the war began eight years ago.

This year the Pentagon lifted the ban on media coverage of these transfers --the arrival of flag covered caskets.

During Vietnam, those caskets, carried across air fields and across our TV screens, were a haunting reminder of an ever-climbing death toll in a seemingly endless battle.

Now, the president will decide the policy. Whether or not to send thousands more soldiers into combat having witnessed the price of the hardest choice any president can make.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News

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Add a Comment See all 21 Comments
by shylove2 November 3, 2009 12:01 PM EST
But does he remember the 07/037/79 Carter-Brzenski authorization to support freedom fighter(terrorists) against the Govt of Afghanistan and to draw Russia to subsequently occupy the country, a secular quasi feminist supporting country at that, so that those people could be used in a proxy war with Russia and susequently be tormented by 30 years of death, destruction, and chaos. That would in itself give Afghanistan just cause to invade and bomb the US.
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by mcdtrudi November 2, 2009 9:43 PM EST
You are a JOKE! Obama is really a suit and thinks like a radical islamic!
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by laurelann11 November 1, 2009 10:18 AM EST
Katie Couric is shameful and will stop at nothing.
God Bless our troops.
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by mcdtrudi November 2, 2009 9:40 PM EST
I'm on your side LaurelAnn. Katic only wants more money anyhow, and when you are so rich, they become more and more greedy, it's a real disease, and I will mention this to my real doctor soon. To get to the New england Journal to make greed a real disease. They are all "STUCK" & there is a medication for getting stuck they can get a real script for a once a day medication.and the poor Marine that had to show Obama how to salute must have thrown up afterwards. I would have thrown up on his shoes as he walked away! lol
by Omni-Present101 October 31, 2009 7:05 AM EDT
Reagan Photo Oped:Fallen US Marines, Killed, Remember the [Beirut Bombings] Reagan even Announced it on the Radio, he was going to Andrews Air Force Base. What a Photo-Op that was Hmmm.

See how Stupid You Low Life's Sound ? You Hateful, Hate Mongers are in Presidential Campaign 2012 Mode Already, Hateful, Desperate & Disrespectful Low Life's that you are.

Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin and Jebb Bush [Ha]

Lots Of Luck with those Wannabe's


Reagan not only had the nerve to be photographed with the dead. He announced it in a radio address.
____________

In a few hours I?ll undertake one of the saddest journeys of my Presidency. I?ll be going to Andrews Air Force Base to meet one of our Air Force planes bringing home 16 Americans who died this week in the terrorist attack on the United States Embassy in Beirut.

Looking forward to the drooling Bushbots criticizing Reagan for ?turning the funeral into a spectacle with the press and other jackals yapping around the periphery.?
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by Brumdoc October 30, 2009 1:14 PM EDT
Great photo op Mr. President. I'm sure that the families and friends of those soldiers and all the other families and friends that lost loved ones serving around the world who gave the last full measure of their loyalty and devotion to the country that you have constantly upbraided since you were elected (and even before you were elected) appreciate that touching picture of you saluting them. What a joke. From a man who could not bring himself to place his hand over his heart even when the national anthem was played.
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by TheKilroy October 30, 2009 4:02 PM EDT
The rest of the press is slowly realizing this was a photo-op.
by Omni-Present101 October 31, 2009 7:23 AM EDT
Still hadn't gotten over a [Bi-Racial Man] as Commander In Chief,he is half Caucasian & African [Reality] that 65 Million Americans Voted into Office. Get Over it. He has to clean up the [MESS] George W. Bush & Dick Cheney left him. You People have Obama Obsession Dis-order of the Worse kind. he's the President of the USA. If you want a European Descendant as Your Leader, Move to Canada,Europe, New Zealand Or Australia, maybe Iceland or Greenland ?

The Female Population, as well as the Hispanic Population & a New Population of Foreigners becoming US Citizens, from all over the World, thanks to Past Administrations. Also Count Afro-Americans, People of Bi-Racial Heritage, their Parents, Grand Parents, Asians, Arabs, Jews, and that Crucial Demographic the Caucasian Female Vote, the largest Voting Block, He's got them, so look for President Obama in [2012] as well.
by Omni-Present101 October 30, 2009 6:49 AM EDT
John Murtha said that it was premature to add more troops to Afghanistan, especially since the current plan to increase U.S. forces there to the level of [68,000] is still underway.

"Look how long it took us to get [22,000 More Troops] it took..

[18 Months!] Jesus Christ!" said Murtha,

"When they talk about More Troops they act as if you can send them in Immediately."

Murtha was Insinuating People like [You]
_________________

Who know [NOTHING] about Military Personnel Numbers or Military Strategy.
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by Omni-Present101 October 30, 2009 6:37 AM EDT
Truth be Told, We don't have that Many More Troops, we're Spread out, all over the Globe.

Note: I'll be Glad when the [DRAFT] is Implemented to Fortify Troop Levels. Then lets SEE all YOU Arm Chair Warriors, March on Washington to STOP the [DRAFT]

I'll be so Glad when it Happens, just to Shut You War Mongers Up !!
__________________________
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by Omni-Present101 October 30, 2009 6:31 AM EDT
John Murtha: The Pennsylvania lawmaker and Vietnam veteran, who plays a crucial role in forming the budgets that would fund an increased troop presence, is skeptical of the basic logic of adding personnel.

"In Vietnam it took 500,000 troops and that didn't solve the problem.

So we have to take a different approach,"

Murtha told The Cable in an exclusive interview. "I think that's what McChrystal is trying to do," he said, referring to Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, who recently delivered a status report to the White House on the situation there.
Logic

McChrystal's status report did not include specific requests for more troops. Those are expected in the coming weeks.

But Murtha said that it was premature to add more troops to Afghanistan, especially since the current plan to increase U.S. forces there to the level of 68,000 is still underway.

"Look how long it took us to get 22,000 more troops, it took [18 Months!] Jesus Christ!" said Murtha,

"When they talk about more Troops they act as if you can send them in immediately."

Murtha also had some choice words for the NATO countries that are part of the international mission in Afghanistan.

"At the same time, the American people are supporting this and the Europeans aren't supporting this," Murtha said, "The Europeans aren't doing a damn thing."
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by utaxpaw October 29, 2009 10:50 PM EDT
This Obama trip to Dover looks like more of a photo op than to pay respect to the fallen... and then Katie's coverage with all the voice over certainly looks like she is siging in the Whitehouse choir.
I wonder if Obama would have gone with out the cameras.
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by TheKilroy October 29, 2009 10:52 PM EDT
I'm not even a partisan guy. It just stinks to see these brave heroes used as a photo-op. It's not right.
by Omni-Present101 October 30, 2009 6:22 AM EDT
You're in 2012 Campaign Mode.

"Photo Op"

You're Pathetic-Pitiful.

He's the Commander In Chief.

If Paying Respect to the Fallen is a Photo Op to You, How Low Leveled are [YOU]

You make this into a Political-Partisan Game.

You're Small, Petty, Trivial, Triteful, Pitiful and Pathetic.

Anything this President Does will be Met with a Negative.

How Un-Patriotic are those like [You]

Hateful & Hate Filled.

You're Not Fair, You Just use this Opportunity to Pounce on the President, its [Cheap & Low]

You're an Extension of Fox News, Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Prager & Savage.

Hate Filled, Hateful [Hate Mongers]

Its President Obama, Make it Political, No Matter what.
by Omni-Present101 October 29, 2009 9:39 PM EDT
All you Sideline, Arm Chair Warriors....

[Enlist]

Volunteer Your Love Ones for War in Afghanistan, Pakistan Or Iraq.

Be a Patriot like those who have DIED, then I'll be Impressed.

Other than that, You're simply Yacking, for Yacking's Sake.
Reply to this comment
by TheKilroy October 29, 2009 10:47 PM EDT
Are you suggesting out brave men and women in uniform were volunteered by their families? Do you believe not sending reinforcements to those in harms way is a good idea?
by Omni-Present101 October 29, 2009 9:36 PM EDT
Killroy: You're Sad, Warped & Twisted, He's the President Of The USA. You're a Sad Person..Indeed.

1. President Obama did the Right Thing. Pay Homage to the Soldiers who gave their Lives.

2. This is a Reminder of what War Brings Us All [Death] Hurt,Pain and Sorrow.

3. President Bush let U.S. Troops [DIE] in Afghanistan for 8 Years. His General on the Ground Requested More Troops and Bush-Cheney Dithered for 8 Months and left the Troop Increase for President Obama and he Fulfilled that Request of 20,000 More Troops. [Fact]

4. Only a Fool would rush in, with More Troops that won't be a game Changer at all, it hasn't in 8 years, nor in the 6 Months since President Obama Fulfilled the 20,000 Troop Increase.

5. It took Bush 3 Months to Increase Troops in Iraq, I Believe it was called the [Surge]

All Sideline-Arm Chair Soldiers to sit back, relax and Allow the Commander in Chief make a Wise, Sound and Prudent Military Decision.
Reply to this comment
by TheKilroy October 29, 2009 10:44 PM EDT
Please no personal attacks. I prefer civil discourse. You say, "President Obama did the Right Thing. Pay Homage to the Soldiers who gave their Lives." Please explain why he didn't attend any of the dozens of homecomings without cameras? I await your non personal response.
by TheKilroy October 29, 2009 9:20 PM EDT
It's sad that Obama used Dover for a photo-op. there are plenty of times he could have went when cameras weren't there.

Mark my words he will use this visit for political cover on his Afghanistan decision.
Reply to this comment
by Omni-Present101 October 29, 2009 9:05 PM EDT
1. President Obama did the Right Thing. Pay Homage to the Soldiers who gave their Lives.

2. This is a Reminder of what War Brings Us All [Death] Hurt,Pain and Sorrow.

3. President Bush let U.S. Troops [DIE] in Afghanistan for 8 Years. His General on the Ground Requested More Troops and Bush-Cheney Dithered for 8 Months and left the Troop Increase for President Obama and he Fulfilled that Request of 20,000 More Troops. [Fact]

4. Only a Fool would rush in, with More Troops that won't be a game Changer at all, it hasn't in 8 years, nor in the 6 Months since President Obama Fulfilled the 20,000 Troop Increase.

5. It took Bush 3 Months to Increase Troops in Iraq, I Believe it was called the [Surge]

All Sideline-Arm Chair Soldiers to sit back, relax and Allow the Commander in Chief make a Wise, Sound and Prudent Military Decision.
Reply to this comment
by tommycanna October 29, 2009 8:19 PM EDT
My initial reaction to the President still deliberating on sending an additional 40 thousand troops was one of concern. Here we have our soldiers dying each and everyday, in part because there are not enough troops in Afghanistan to fight this war. I wanted the President to decide quickly, one way or the other. I and many other Americans are still waiting... but I can certainly understand the delay in his decision.

The view of flag drapped caskets, dealing on a personal level with the parents and families who lost loved ones (ones that we love too)can make any human being, even a President, from making what could possibly be the biggest decision of his life.

My heart, thoughts and prayers are with the families of those fighting now and those no longer with us. I will never forget..

Thomas Cannarozzi
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