Special Access:With the President

It can't be business as usual when we have troops sweating out another holiday in a hostile environment.Well aware of this,President Barack Obama tricked the media by seemingly helicoptering to Camp David for the weekend on Friday,then secretly flying back to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.From there,He flew to Afghanistan on Air Force One-a 16-hour trip,completely fooling his observers.Looking none the worse for wear,the young leader arrived at Bagram Air Base just north of the Afghan capital,Kabul,late at night,flying down to Kabul by helicopter,where he received an official welcome from President Hamid Karzai and an honor guard.President Karzai only learned of Mr.Obama's visit an hour before he landed.Following a brief consultation with Mr.Karzai,President Obama went back to Bagram for an event with U.S. troops and a meeting with military commanders.
Attired in his black leather aviator jacket with an embroidered presidential seal and a name tag,the President greeted an excited crowd of about 2500 military personnel,plus a handful of civilian workers.I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief,the President told the troops.My main job here today is to say thank you on behalf of the entire American people.Everybody back home is proud of you,is grateful to you.You miss your kids,your spouses,your friends.Your services are absolutely essential to American safety and security.We did not choose this war.We were attacked viciously on 9-11.This is the region where the perpetrators,al-Qaida,still base their leadership.We are gonna disrupt,defeat and destroy al-Qaida and its allies.
Our strategy creates a military mission,but also a civilian effort for the Afghan people.More troops are on the way.We'll continue to work with Congress to make sure you have the equipment you need,the helicopters and armored vehicles.Our troops have pushed the Taliban out of Marjah.Pakistan is mounting major offensives.The al-Qaida and Taliban leadership are hunkered down.We are gonna keep them on the run.Together with our partners,we're gonna prevail.I am absolutely certain of that.We're gonna keep to improving your pay and benefits and family support,the post-9-11 GI Bill and the biggest VA budget in 30 years.
You've met your responsibilities.That's why you inspire me.All of you represent the virtues that America so desperately needs right now.I've seen your courage and your heroism,your tenacity and determination in our wounded warriors' incredible dedication,focus and pride.Each one of you is part of an unbroken line.They offer fear;and you offer hope.So long as there are folks like you,I am confident our nation will endure,the President assured the troops at Bagram Air Base.He had begun his speech at about 11:11 pm and finished around 11:44,including shaking hands as a live band played all the service anthems.He also visited a mess hall,speaking with a number of troops one-on-one.After a 6-hour mission,he was back aboard Air Force One for a red eye flight back to Andrews,having bucked up the troops as the Easter and Passover holidays approach,and improved his ties with the Afghan leaders and people.