A prediction: President Obama will add a “surprise” visit to Afghanistan to his Olympics-lobbying trip to Copenhagen. The president and his advisers must realize, in Mark McKinnon’s words, that “people elected Obama to be president–not the head of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce,” that a large part of being president is being commander-in-chief, and that it’s not good that Obama appears to have plenty of time for everything–David Letterman, Democratic fundraisers, Olympics-lobbying jaunts–except Afghanistan, just as he’s about to decide whether to commit tens of thousands more troops there. In addition, Obama’s never been to Afghanistan as president, and–we now know–apparently has spoken to General Stanley McChrystal only once by video-teleconference since McChrystal assumed command there. David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel aren’t stupid: Expect to see Barack Obama get on the plane after his session with the International Olympics Committee at mid-day Friday Copenhagen time, and be in Afghanistan with our troops five hours later, in time for the evening news Friday here in the U.S.
