Global Insights: Obama's Multiple Messages in Kabul

President Barack Obama had multiple audiences in mind during his lightning 6-hour visit to Afghanistan this weekend. In both his meetings and his speech delivered to U.S. soldiers and broadcast worldwide, Obama wanted to catalyze improved Afghan government performance, reassure Afghan citizens, bolster U.S. troop morale, and make his commitment to winning the Afghan war clear to global audiences.

For security reasons, Obama departed unannounced from Washington on Saturday night, arriving at Bagram airfield, on the outskirts of Kabul, early Sunday evening. He then flew by helicopter to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Afterwards, Obama returned to Bagram to address several thousand cheering U.S. troops and civilians. To gain additional perspectives on the Afghan situation, Obama also consulted with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and Coalition forces in the country, and Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. He then returned to Washington aboard Air Force One early Monday morning. ...