President Obama Marks Bin Laden's Death With Afghan Trip
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—One year later. On the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death at the hands of Navy SEALs, President Barack Obama makes a surprise visit to Afghanistan.
As Denise Koch reports, he revealed details of his agreement with the Afghan president and the plan to withdraw troops.
President Obama arrived at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan under the cover of darkness in a secret trip meant to mark the first anniversary of bin Laden's death.
Shortly after landing, President Obama met with Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai to sign a long-term agreement for the United States to support Afghanistan, long after American combat troops leave in 2014.
"The Afghan people and the world should know that Afghanistan has a friend and a partner in the United States," the president said.
"I will not keep Americans in harm's way a single day longer than is absolutely required for our national security. But we must finish the job we started in Afghanistan," the president continued.
Here at home concern grows over a possible terror threat to coincide with the raid anniversary.
But Terrorism and Homeland Security expert Michael Greenberger of the University of Maryland tells WJZ's Mary Bubala that the scariest threat could be right under our noses.
He says the biggest enemy at the moment is homegrown terrorism.
"It demonstrates time and time again that the foremost problem we've got is with the people in our own country who develop these rouge mentalities," Greenberger said.
Airlines are being extra cautious Tuesday and Wednesday, using more scrutiny as they monitor commercial flights into the country.
Tuesday's surprise visit was Obama's third trip to Afghanistan since he took office. It's his first time addressing Americans from a battlefield.
