President Obama Says Burden on Troops, Families Bears on “How I See These Conflicts”
EmailThis afternoon in the Oval Office, President Obama reflected on his visit to Dover Air Force Base early this morning, where he participated in ceremonies commemorating the return of 18 fallen Americans — 15 troops and 3 DEA agents — killed Monday in Afghanistan.
"Obviously it was a sobering reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices that our young men and women in uniform are engaging in every single day," the president said in response to a question from a reporter. "Not only our troops but their families as well."
The president continued, saying, "Michelle and I are constantly mindful of their sacrifices and obviously the burden that both our troops and our families bear in any wartime situation is going to bear on how I see these conflicts. And you know, it is something that I think about each and every day."
The president made the remarks while sitting next to the Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012 
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Yeah ? Where has he been for 9 months ?
Posted by: nat turner | October 29, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
I just read elsewhere that only 1 family would allow him his photo op. Does ABC know if that is true? Also, I wonder if he has asked before and been turned down and that is why he is just now getting around to it?
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
And that is the same Pres. who wanted the military to pay for their own health insurance.
Posted by: Lizzie | October 29, 2009, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
===axey won’t tell us the source because its likely we would laugh at it.===
Of course you would. It is one of the milblogs. If I were posting anywhere else, I would link to it. You know they don’t allow links here.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
According to AP, he saw all 18 coffins removed. Only 1 was removed under the watchful eyes of the media and Obama. Which answers an earlier question I had. Whether or not Obama could have gone to Dover and viewed the ceremony without cameras. He clearly could. I would like to know, and hope ABC will ask, if Obama has requested the photo op before and been turned down.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
===You can always post the name of the blog and people can google but somehow I doubt you’re going to. ===
Mudville Gazette. Let’s see how long my post is up before they delete it.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
“And that is the same Pres. who wanted the military to pay for their own health insurance.”
____________________________________
Another right wing lie. The current administration (very briefly) floated the suggestion that veteran’s private insurance companies should cover injuries and service-related health problems.
The proposal would not have, as was often misrepresented, force veterans to pay for the treatment of their own injuries, nor require them to buy private insurance.
The idea was briefly considered and then totally withdrawn within about 48 hours.
Posted by: tierra | October 29, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
“I just read elsewhere that only 1 family would allow him his photo op. Does ABC know if that is true? Also, I wonder if he has asked before and been turned down and that is why he is just now getting around to it?”
Axey | Oct 29, 2009 3:21:51 PM
You think that 1 out of 18 is the best ‘photo op’ he could find? Seriously? The military skews Republican, but there is more support for Obama than that. That rumor doesn’t pass the smell test.
I think this “photo op” is appropriate. The whole country needs to realize that our men and women are over there dying right now. I don’t even see how this helps Obama – the Right sees him as ‘dithering’ on supporting those dying for us, while the Left sees him ‘dithering’ on bringing them home to safety from a quagmire. Getting these Vietnam’esque images into the press doesn’t seem to have a real upside for Obama.
It is his duty as Commander in Chief to respect the men and women under his command.
Posted by: jhw539 | October 29, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
BARACK O’BABBLE: “I’m a Leftwing loon, why do you think I went to Jeremiah Wright’s church for 20 years ? Why do you think I was buddy-buddy with guys who were trying to blow up government buildings; why do you think I named Van Jones to work in my administration ? I’m not going to support our military because we loons hate the American military, indeed we hate everything about America.” A nightmare we’ve all had lately.
Posted by: Ron | October 29, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
===That rumor doesn’t pass the smell test. ===
Tell it to the NYTs. I just read it there.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
“The family of Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind., agreed to have the transfer of his remains photographed early Thursday morning. The other families chose not to, officials said, under a new Pentagon policy that lifted an 18-year ban on media covering the return of U.S. service members killed in action if families provide permission.” NYTs.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Hey ABC–it the POTUS only allowed to witness the return of fallen military if the media is there to photo/video the event?
Posted by: jennifert7 | October 29, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
Hey, nat, where was G.W. Bush for 8 years?
Posted by: B. Bear | October 29, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
I would have much more respected the President’s attendance at Dover if it had appeared as “The President and his close advisors paid their respects to the war dead..” if it had appeared on page 10 of the local newspapers without a photo rather than the big splash he makes hauling journalists and photogs with him on Marine One in the middle of the night so as to make the front page of the morning media outlets and a press conference later in the day touting how grieved he was… seriously. It was a media op with a dead soldier. If only the coffin were open, the AP could have splashed that photo around, too.
Posted by: Some Soldier's Mom | October 29, 2009, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
So what does 1 family allowing the press to document the return of their loved one versus others that declined have to do with Obama?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Um, this. Seems he’s just been waiting for such an opportunity:
“A senior White House official tells ABC News that President Obama has wanted to do this ever since the policy of media coverage of the return of fallen troops was changed earlier this year, but he wanted to do so ‘in a way that caused the least amount of disruption.’ “
Posted by: jennifert7 | October 29, 2009, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Ryan,
Why not just claim right wing bs to begin with instead of challenging me to prove what I read elsewhere?
I still want to know if this is the first family that agreed to allow Obama his photo op.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
How about some leadership?
That would go a long way for military families….
Anything.
Bueller?
Bueller?
Posted by: Carrie | October 29, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
===I would say the right wingers here should be ashamed of themselves but we all know they have no shame or decency or morals or …well you get the picture. ===
For what?
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
===Posted by: Some Soldier’s Mom | Oct 29, 2009 5:21:00 PM===
God bless you, your family and especially your son.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
===so you found an article that didn’t say what you wanted===
The article said exactly what I said it said. Only 1 of the 18 families allowed Obama his photo op. It’s still up at 4:40. Re-read it.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
It’s on Yahoo news. The story says 11 of the 17 families had decided against media coverage before being told Obama would be there. In the end, only one family agreed to it.
Posted by: jennifert7 | October 29, 2009, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
“Air Force videographers record each arrival whether a family chooses to allow media coverage or not. Afterwards those videos are offered to all the families. Overall, 75 percent of families choose to receive the Air Force video. That includes the 60 percent who allowed media coverage.”
_______________________________________
Looks like generally speaking 60 percent of families allow the media to cover the arrival of the coffins.
Posted by: tierra | October 29, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
“The article said exactly what I said it said. Only 1 of the 18 families allowed Obama his photo op.”
Only 1 in 18 families on this particular return wanted media.
PP has a new blog on people accepting media coverage of the return of loved ones.
Some have allowed the press but after the initial swirl for the 1st person media coverage has dwindled which is pretty damn sad.
I am glad Obama took the time to acknowledge these soldiers sacrifices and there should be media coverage of every soldier’s sacrifice.
Your inference that Obama was waiting to be allowed to take a photo op is disgusting.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 29, 2009, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
===Your inference that Obama was waiting to be allowed to take a photo op is disgusting. ===
And if it comes out later that I’m right, will it still be disgusting? He absolutely was looking for a photo op. I will point you to his trip to Germany last year as precedence to his need for photos while visiting the military. Dead or alive.
===PP has a new blog on people accepting media coverage of the return of loved ones. ===
Accepting media coverage with or without the president? Some of these families had accepted press coverage until they found out Obama would be there. I think AP reported 11 of the 18. But only 1 allowed Obama his photo op.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
“And if it comes out later that I’m right, will it still be disgusting?”
I’ll take the odds that you are wrong.
I’ll also double down that you will never admit so.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 29, 2009, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
Oh, it never ends! No matter that the president took the time from his burdensome schedule to pay his respects to our fallen heroes, the right wing just has to smear their mud all over a solemn occasion.
In the past, George Bush would not allow the coffins at Dover to be shown.
It is good that all Americans can now witness this respectful ceremony. I would think less of our president if he DIDN’T go there.
Posted by: findlayway | October 29, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
“I just read elsewhere that only 1 family would allow him his photo op.”
axey won’t tell us the source because its likely we would laugh at it.
Not a shock.
This is stock and trade for right wing rumor mongering.
“I read somewhere”
“I just heard”
“Some people say” ”
Ahem, you can find the media relase form here
MEDIA APPROVED TO COVER DIGNIFIED TRANSFER – October, 29 at 12:25 a.m.
(since links aren’t allowed you’ll have to google it)
Brian Bates’ name was also on an Air Force list released Wednesday of soldiers whose families had authorized media coverage of a soldier’s return. The family later reversed the decision leaving only Sgt Griffin.
That info can be found by googling “wxvt Brian Bates’” his local news.
We milbloggers like facts.
Posted by: Mrs Greyhawk | October 29, 2009, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Mr. Obama should show true respect for these families, instead of just more words. No golfing for one year, for instance.
Posted by: young_voter | October 29, 2009, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
===I’ll also double down that you will never admit so. ===
I will admit it if someone answers the question. And by someone, I mean someone other than you.
Mrs. Greyhawk, thanks.
Posted by: Axey | October 29, 2009, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
“His visit had been kept secret almost until the moment Mr Obama
arrived by helicopter from the White House, half an hour after midnight.
“First the President walked slowly with an official party up a ramp into the belly of the great, grey C-17 cargo plane. Then the group emerged to form a line of honour, headed by Mr Obama. As he and the other officials saluted, the coffin was carried past, into a white van that would take it to the mortuary on the base.
“The ritual was repeated 17 times, before the President finally boarded his helicopter and returned to Washington, just before dawn.”
___________________________________
So the President performed this duty from midnight until just before dawn. Seems to me that’s a bit more that a ‘photo op’.
Posted by: tierra | October 29, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Mr. Bush was exemplary in the personal comfort he gave to the families of our KIA, and to wounded veterans. He refrained from meeting the families at Dover pursuant to a policy that long predated his presidency.
The following NY Times piece describes an event from late 2003. It was a practice he followed throughout his presidency, to his great credit and to the heartfelt appreciation of the families. I sincerely hope that Mr. Obama will do the same. Unless it should appear that he is not doing so I decline to criticize him . There is no more difficult thing for a commander to do.
“FORT CARSON, Colo., Nov. 24 — President Bush offered personal condolences on Monday to the families of 26 soldiers killed in Iraq, meeting privately with 98 parents, spouses, children and other relatives of the dead at a time when his handling of war casualties has become a political issue.”
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 30, 2009, 12:00 am 12:00 am
“The ritual was repeated 17 times . . .”
tierra: “So the President performed this duty from midnight until just before dawn. Seems to me that’s a bit more that a ‘photo op’.”
As our fallen soldiers prove that freedom isn’t free, Mr. Obama proves photo-ops aren’t free either. This wasn’t supposed to be all about Obama and how great he is for honoring our fallen soldiers. I know this is a difficult concept for liberals to grasp, but this is one thing that absolutely should not be about Obama and his liberal politics. Yet you all could resist it. That’s why the ban was instituted in the first place — to allow a dignified return, not a presidential photo-op with more than obvious political timing. The man and you liberals encouraging him have no shame!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 30, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am