July 19, 2008
Obama visits with troops in Afghanistan
The Associated PressA U.S. military spokesman says that U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is visiting troops in eastern Afghanistan.
Staff. Sgt. David Hopkins says Obama and two other senators are making a brief stop in Jalalabad airfield, in eastern Nangarhar province. Hopkins says that Obama is meeting with soldiers.
Obama is making his first trip to the scene of a war that he says deserves more attention and more troops.
The Illinois senator flew in as part of an official congressional delegation, but the Afghan visit was rich with political implications.
Afghanistan is facing a resurgent Taliban insurgency nearly seven years after the U.S.-led invasion of the country toppled the militant movement from power.