Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Obama Visits, Afghans Grow Frustrated
KABUL — As US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, July 19, at the start of a major international tour, many Afghans are growing frustrated with the deteriorating situation in the country, seven years after the US invasion.
"There have not been any changes to the lives of ordinary Afghans," street vendor Ramazan Jan told Reuters.
"The visits and presence of foreigners has not changed the lives of poor Afghans."
Obama arrived in Kabul on Saturday at the start of a foreign tour that will also take him to Iraq.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters before leaving the United States.
The Democratic nominee will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and visit US forces in the war-torn nation.
"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense, both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what ... their biggest concerns are. And I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."
US government and military officials in Kabul were tight-lipped about Obama's movements in Afghanistan.
The Democratic nominee is due to travel on to Iraq Monday and then to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.
In the days ahead of the tour, the Illinois senator said that Afghanistan needs more help in its fight against Taliban.
More
"The visits and presence of foreigners has not changed the lives of poor Afghans."
Obama arrived in Kabul on Saturday at the start of a foreign tour that will also take him to Iraq.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what the situation on the ground is," Obama told reporters before leaving the United States.
The Democratic nominee will meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and visit US forces in the war-torn nation.
"I want to, obviously, talk to the commanders and get a sense, both in Afghanistan and in Baghdad of, you know, what ... their biggest concerns are. And I want to thank our troops for the heroic work that they've been doing."
US government and military officials in Kabul were tight-lipped about Obama's movements in Afghanistan.
The Democratic nominee is due to travel on to Iraq Monday and then to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.
In the days ahead of the tour, the Illinois senator said that Afghanistan needs more help in its fight against Taliban.
More
For more information:
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli...
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$140.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network
The tour, aimed at boosting his foreign affairs credentials with voters at home and introducing himself to world leaders for the first time, started with visits to American troops on the front line.
On the way to Afghanistan, Obama stopped at Camp Arifjan, the main US military base in Kuwait and a major gateway for US soldiers moving into and out of Iraq.
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Nutter, a spokesman for the US military in Kuwait, said Obama 'talked to soldiers and constituents and met with senior military leaders'.
More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/20/barackobama.uselections2008
The anti-war candidates (Cynthia McKinney running on the Green Party ticket, Brian Moore of the Socialist Party, Gloria La Riva on the Party for Socialism and Liberation ticket, and Róger Calero on the Socialist Workers Party ticket), should try to get this kind of access to the troops.