President Obama Pays Respects to Fallen Troops at Dover Air Force Base

President Obama Pays Respects to Fallen Troops at Dover Air Force Base
October 29, 2009 6:08 AM

PrintRSSE-mailShare this blog entry with friendsFacebookTwitterRedditStumbleUponMoreSunlen Miller and Jake Tapper report:

DOVER, DEL. -- Earlier this year President Obama lifted the 18-year ban on media coverage of the return of fallen soldiers to Dover, a ban critics said hid the costs of war from the American people. Thursday morning President Obama -- who is weighing new strategy in Afghanistan -- saw those costs up close.

President Obama made an unscheduled, overnight trip to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware overnight to observe up close a "solemn dignified transfer movement," the event which marks the return to the US of the remains of fallen service members.

Military and White House officials said this particular movement involved the incoming remains of 15 service members and 3 Drug Enforcement Administration agents who were killed in Afghanistan on October 26th. This is the first time President Obama has participated in this type of military event. The president also met with the families of the fallen.

The president arrived at Dover AFB at 12:34am after 40-minute chopper ride from the White House. An Air Force C-17 carrying the 18 fallen U.S. personnel had arrived at Dover before the president. Among the dead on board were 7 U.S. Army soldiers and 3 DEA agents killed when their MH-47 Chinook crashed at Darreh-ye-bum, and 8 U.S. soldiers killed when their STRYKER personnel vehicle was struck by IED blast in the Arghandab River Valley.

It was a somber event.

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http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/10/president-obama-pays-respect-to-fallen-troops-at-dover-air-force-base.html

President Barack Obama salutes as a carry team carries the transfer case containing the remains of Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin of Terre Haute, Ind., who, accordng to the Department of Defense died in Afghanistan, during the dignified transfer event at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


resident Barack Obama, far left, salutes as an Army carry team carries the transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. Dale R. Griffin of Terre Haute, Ind., during a dignified transfer event at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)


U.S. President Barack Obama (L) participates in the dignified transfer of U.S. Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, October 29, 2009. Griffin is one of 18 U.S. personnel who died Monday in Afghanistan and returned to the U.S. onboard an Air Force C-17 military transport plane. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES POLITICS MILITARY)

... the true test is owning what you've done.

even when he talked his grandmother's death.

.... and I'm probably one of the more hawkish members of DU when it comes to foreign policy. I recognize the difference between wars and dumb wars. It would be all too easy to just call it quits and bring everyone home .... but that wont stop the fighting.

There are no easy solutions.

It's just like the pending execution of the DC sniper. My faith requires me to believe that killing is wrong .... regardless of the circumstances. If I were the President, I'd want to call my good buddy Tim Kane and ask him to stay the execution of Mr. Muhammad. Two of my loved ones were murdered. One of their killers is dead, the other is not. I know that "justice" doesn't heal anything. I dont know how I could sleep at night knowing that I had the power to save someone's life and didn't do it.

But I trust him to make the right decisions. I wouldn't have voted for him if I didn't think he had the wisdom and empathy to do (or not do) what needed to be done.

It was a very honorable thing he did last night .... it pales in comparison to the honor of the men he was paying respect to .... but it confirms my belief that he's going to make the right decisions.

the security and safety of all Americans against the surety of having more service men and women killed as the war continues. I can't even imagine having to make a decision like that.

And I'm so sorry about your two loved ones, Clio. :hug:

I am very proud of our president. I think he understands the implications of these wars. It just breaks my heart to see the results of such needless violence.

our military, not just by being there but by how he held himself and moved around with the officers.