Obama hits stormy weather in Afghanistan

Meeting with Karzai scrapped due to poor weather – although many saw a deeper reason for the cancellation.

Afghanistan — U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Afghanistan Friday night to spread a bit of holiday cheer among the troops serving in the long and bloody conflict.

“I know it’s not easy for all of you to be away from home, especially during the holidays,” said Obama, speaking to a group of soldiers. “But here’s what I want you to know. As President of the United States, I have no greater responsibility than keeping the American people secure. I could not meet that responsibility, we could not protect the American people, we could not enjoy the blessings of our liberty without the extraordinary service that each and every one of you perform each and every day.”

Along with boosting morale among the soldiers, Obama had planned to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a man whose relations with Washington have been highly fractious recently.

But just before Air Force One touched down at Bagram Air Force Base, located approximately 30 miles north of Kabul, the press was informed that plans for a working dinner at the Presidential Palace and a visit to the U.S. Embassy had to be cancelled due to stormy weather. Dust and wind made it impossible for helicopters to lift off, said Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications.

For those sitting in Kabul under calm and crystal-clear skies, the explanation was a bit curious. But U.S. officials insisted that the weather in Bagram, just an hour away by car, was the problem.