Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Obama Visits Afghanistan In Surprise Trip
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 28, 2010
Modified Mar 29, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 28, 2010
Modified Mar 29, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
President Obama made a surprise trip to Afghanstan today. This is his first visit to the country since becoming president, and he said, "One of the main reasons I'm here is to just say thank you for the incredible efforts of our U.S. troops and our coalition partners. They make tremendous sacrifices far away from home, and I want to make sure they know how proud their commander-in-chief is of them."
Last December, Obama announced he would send 30,000 more troops to the country and wanted to withdraw starting by July 2011. When speaking with about 2,000 troops, Obama said, "I know it's not easy. You're far away from home. You miss your kids, you miss your spouses, your family, your friends...If I thought for a minute that America's vital interests were not served, were not at stake here in Afghanistan, I would order all of you home right away." He also spoke about progress fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban, "All of that makes America safer, and we are going to keep them on the run. Because that is what is going to be required in order to ensure that our families back home have the security that they need."
Another reason for the visit was to meet with Afghanistan's leader, President Hamid Karzai . The NY Times reports, "White House officials said before the meeting that Mr. Obama planned to press Mr. Karzai on a number of concerns, in particular the failure of Mr. Karzai to make good on promises he made to the international community on anti-corruption, governance and even reintegration with certain reconcilable members of the Taliban insurgency."
Politico gave details about the secrecy and safety concerns of the trip, "In a measure of the security challenges still facing the country, Obama left Camp David secretly Saturday night and arrived at Bagram Air Base near Kabul under cover of darkness Sunday evening. Photographers were ordered not to use flashes as Obama came off Air Force One. The small group of journalists traveling with Obama was not permitted to report on the journey until he arrived via helicopter at Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s palace in the center of Kabul."
Tagged
afghanistan
al-qaeda
hamid karzai
president obama
taliban
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC early voting dips compared to 2025, but spikes in majority-Black districts
Mayor Mamdani's robust support for Gov. Hochul couldn’t quite match the level of early voting in 2025.
By
Brigid Bergin
and
Joe Hong
Published Nov 2, 2026 at 6:06 p.m. ET
NYPD officers shoot man after exchange of gunfire outside Bronx deli, police say
Police say the man threatened people inside a deli before exchanging gunfire with officers. He is expected to survive.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NYPD officers shoot man after exchange of gunfire outside Bronx deli, police say
Police say the man threatened people inside a deli before exchanging gunfire with officers. He is expected to survive.
By
Giulia Heyward
Washington Square Park snowball thrower gets community service for pelting NYPD
By
Walter Wuthmann
Stabbing of Brooklyn runner believed to be ‘random attack,’ NYPD says
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYPD wants info from schools after 15-year-old Bronx boy shot and killed
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .