President Barack Obama arrived in Kabul to sign a 10-year security agreement with Afghanistan. NBC's Chuck Todd and Jim Miklaszewski report.
When President Barack Obama arrived Tuesday in Afghanistan on the first anniversary of the killing of Osama Bin Laden, it was supposed to be a secret, like his earlier visits to the dangerous region. But news of the trip leaked out hours earlier, raising new alarm bells about the president's security.
The Afghan news station TOLONews reported early Tuesday that Obama had arrived in Kabul, hours before the White House's embargo on reporting the news was lifted. Other news organizations, including The New York Post and the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, cited that report, which was attributed to unnamed Afghan officials.
The U.S. National Security Council and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul both denied the report, and Obama's official schedule indicated that he was still in Washington, meeting with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in the Oval Office:

President Barack Obama's official schedule for Tuesday indicated that the president was remaining in Washington all day.
In fact, he had left Joint Base Andrews, Md., aboard Air Force One shortly after midnight Tuesday morning.
![]() M. Alex Johnson is a reporter for msnbc.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. |
In the face of the official denials, the Post removed its report, as did Buzzfeed, which deleted a tweet noting the news after an NSC official called it to argue that its report endangered Obama's life, it said.
Obama's previous visits to Afghanistan, in March and December 2010, were unannounced for security reasons, and news of them didn't leak out. And strict security measures were in place Tuesday as well, including a White House embargo that prevented journalists traveling with the president from reporting the trip until Obama arrived at the Afghan Presidential Palace about 11:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. ET), hours after the TOLONews report was published.
But this time the news did get out, and at an uncomfortable time for U.S. security officials.
The apparent breach comes in the wake of an incident last month in which members of the president's advance security team were reported to have picked up prostitutes in Cartagena, Colombia, before Obama's visit to the Summit of the Americas. Eight Secret Service agents have been forced to leave the agency as a result of the scandal.
The Defense Department said it couldn't discuss the incident, and the White House didn't immediately return calls for comment. Editors at TOLONews did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Ronald Kessler, a longtime political reporter who interviewed more than 100 active and former Secret Service agents for "In the President's Secret Service," a book on presidential security arrangements, told msnbc.com that an early report on a surprise visit "clearly endangers the president when he's going into a war zone."
The biggest concern, he said, "is the possibility of attacks on the ground when (Obama) lands and thereafter."
NBC News and other news organizations learned about the trip Tuesday but withheld reporting it until Obama arrived at the palace. But "the fact so many U.S. reporters knew about it made it easier for it to disseminate," Kessler said.
Kessler suggested that the Obama administration follow the example of the administration of former President George W. Bush, "which did not let reporters know beforehand at all" when Bush traveled to Afghanistan.
"They told the press pool that they were going to go on a trip, (but) they weren't told where," Kessler said. "It was not until they got on the airplane that they were told they were going to Afghanistan."
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A wimp would know this was a mistake and political on the part of Obama. Once again another lie. A wimp knows it is terrible for our security. As a Democratic and mixed race, White Father, Black Mother, and than second step mother after first died at 63 that is a Mexican American Mom once a legal immigrant that filed and became a US Citizen three years later, as a person that served in Nam and had one of his 12 sensible die for nothing, NOTHING LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, I remain Democratic but vote for the best person and sometimes this happens to be a Republican. The Little Girls and Little Boys are going "OH MY GOD" he can think for himself and does not follow a reverend of one color that hats another color. How many people remember the Buddie system in Nam? They have some understanding. Now Obama went to Packston and has committed American Children of all races and colors for years even after he has retired. To a country with no purpose or with no interest. Those that say it does lairs too. What happened to friendly countries we should be working with like Israel?
Obama keeping American children in Packston even when he is retired! Stupid Murder. Obama does one more of these and this Democrat already severely disappointed with his green lies, not green technology study, but wind being efficient, etc. is not certain he can even find time to vote. I had to turn off the TV after watching him for 5 minutes. He never changes. His tone is still the tone of the King and his bow to Pakistan's president is trying. Nothing is going to happen except more Americans in Graves in America.
Look at the Failure of Spain's Green Energy program and loss of jobs and all the rioting in Spain yesterday the next house we will bail out via thee EU Bank with money stolen from us by Dr. Biden and company. I love the Doctor because he has been so smart to have done nothing but be in politics before I was even born. He will retire on his own program when he wants. Even Jimmy Carter would have called for the kill of Bin Laden. It would never have happened without water boarding and 2 years of follow up on what was learned, and now we are going to be paying Pakistanis for years after Obama is retried on his own insurance not Obama care he said when asked he would not replace with his government retirement. This is insane for some democrats that have stilll brains to believe has happened!!! UGH. Same insanity when Clinton made banks give loans with the creation of Freddie and Fannie. What is happening. I just can not stand to look at the lairs Harry Read and Nancy Pelosi and soon Obama and I am a registered Democrats.
I think it is the press like ABC, NBC, CBC, MSNBC, HUFFY-POST, TIME, etc. I think too many lies are killing the president in an attempt to save him. He is human and makes mistakes to cover them is only going to make us Moderate Democrat's think every democratic is like Harry Read and Nancy Pelosi. Could the Press ask the President one hard question on his real record?
How about some news MSNBC for Democrats that are older than 14 teen year old, have taken a personal leap of faith, are minorities with character, and are not instant followers of Rainbow Hitlers of all colors making money off their own poor?
This was a HUGE MISTAKE by OBAMA on Packston and/or Afghanistan for that matter and it was a news event for re-election supported by the news. It will kill many more Americans than save. I hope not your brothers and sisters like mine.
Someone missed their meds.....
we only have to look as far as across the isle. how convenient for republicans for an assasination in afghanistan, especially on this notable anniversary. how very convenient, indeed, except, for the grace of God, go our President. the devil and all his armies are defeated, already. glory, hallelujah to the king of kings and lord of lords, over all. the perfect will of God only be done, and we are a nation that declares, in God we trust. only under the banner of the Lord, which is perfect love, shall we conquer. we support Israel and love her and all her twelve tribes, why ? because God does. it is holy land and chosen of God according to holy scriptures. the Lord will bless whosoever blesses her and curse whosoever curses her. do not be deceived.
Y'all. Once again, we learn how cruel and dumb was the Bush administration. The thought of it all,---taking reasonable measures to keep the slime ball press from leaking national security info. I'm just relieved that nothing happened to Air Force One as for sure it would have been George Bush's fault. I'm surprised Barry and staff didn't let Pakistan know in advance of the SEAL mission to get bin Laden, peace on him. A.
The Paki's knew...but have to keep up the charade that they didn't for their own safety.
I don't know where these folks get their moronic ideas.......perhaps in their white churches on Sunday!!
I am reminded of my sweet Mother who did not vote in 1960,because she went into labor with her youngest on election day and the family funny story of how mortified she was on being told that as she was beginning to come out from under anesthesia, she asked the Dr., "Who won the election?" Being told that it looked like Kennedy would win (and my Mom being an uneducated religious bigot) had mumbled,"Oh sh*t,no." This was also the same mother who I saw crying...for the first time in my life, and not just crying but nearly hysterical with grief and worry for his family,and for our Nation and all it's citizens, a few years later when I was sent home from school early because our President had been shot. What the H has happened to common decency and respect , not to mention patriotism in this country? I have a feeling the POS posters on Newsvine are the one's complaining about and causing the lack of respect, and bullying among our youth.
Q. What do you call it when one of your Secret Service Advance Team members tells one stinkin' secret to one stinkin' prostitute sheep something that's supposed to remain pillow talk? A. Baaaad Neeews! Obama needs so desperately to get in, and stay in the news these days. This is another yawnfest story. He wants so desperately that someone, anyone, out there cares to hear his OBL story again..just in case you missed the yawnfest TV special, made by the yawnfest Propaganda Czar's award whining propaganda team.
Next he'll be on SNL with commado facepaint and a K-bar clenched in his teeth. "Forget the 1.6T and 8.5, hey, did I tell you the story where I strangled Bin Laden to death with his own intestines?"
Or the Whitehouse bedroom skit: "Hey, can you tell the chef that I want orange juice and a bowl of OBL in the morning - oh, that's right, we don't have any more OBL!"
My advice to Obama is not to tell any republican congressional members about his trips until he has landed, next replace your present secret service officers and do not put any secret serivce officer with republican ties on your security team. The repubicans are dead set on Obama not winning another 4 years as president and I am afraid they will attempt to keep this policy at any cost. We know what the GOP (formley KKK) is capable of and I would not trust them on matters of his security. I think we have a greater threat to the US freedom and constitution than with Al Qaeda. The republican party with the help of the courts are slowing destorying the constitution just as Bush destoryied the Bill of Rights, and our participation in international courts. So planning to stay in Afganistan for another 14 years may be a mute subject if the republicans are allow to continue on their course to destory the Constitution. We may have our own civil war to fight.
Agree with that, I believe the Koch bros are desperate enough to do ANYTHING
People of intelligence; republicans blurt things out that they are told are true and ok to say. Remember 2004′s “October surprise”: bin Laden’s tape that threatened Americans four days before they went to the polls. john mccain said the incident was “helpful” to the election of President George W. Bush, thereby "politicizing" fear of bin laden.
“It’s okay to say something like that if you are a Republican. That was the same election, 2004, in which Dick Cheney declared a vote for the Democratic candidate would be a vote for the United States to be attacked by Al Qaeda again.”
Remember the outrage on fox fake news over the "Dixie Chicks" dissing Bushie boy? Now look at their outrage over the Democrats questioning Ted Nugent over his beheading the democrats comment?
Remember when Mccain was running for potus? He touted a "secret plan" to kill bin laden. Isn't that politicizing bin laden. Isn't it ironic that 10 years after 9-11, President Obama got the deed done?
Republicans talk out of their asses. They have no brains left. They are like the Borg on "star trek". Newt is a prime example.
Obama; FOUR MORE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!
All political tactics to make himself look good with the Arab League. He has no respectable relationship with any of the leaders of our Allies. He has no understanding of military strategies nor is he a respectable leader of our military forces. Any time his lips move, he is being dishonest with every true American citizen who truly loves the Freedom our Constitution grants us. Unfortunately, the liberalists, who follow socialism, have faith in a man, who thinks he has become the God of the Universe and is a gift to mankind. Unfortunately, he is only friends with those who want to destroy the democratic process of our country which continues to deteriorate every day this man is in office.
Republicans want the President to be assassinated. I'm sure it was a Republican that leaked the information.
I remember the hatred for Kennedy just prior to his assassination, I grew up in Ft. Worth and the hate could be felt in the air........much like today coming from the GOP and their rich friends.
If we keep reporting that we are having problems with our own security then how long do you think it will be before we are put to the test by someone? Someone needs to clear this mess up!
Must be the new GOP approach to winning the upcoming election...short of Obama getting shot, the GOP and the clowns they continue to parade in front of us have no chance...
The announcement of the Presidents arrival was more than likely nothing more than some of the Baghram watchers reporting that AF1 arrived. Baghram is under continual surveillance by Al Quaida and Taliban operatives as well as the Afghanistan and other security/intelligence services. They watch our comings and goings and report to whomever what we do. It's nothing new and has been going on since US Forces were there. I seriously doubt our own news personnel would "leak" information like that as they're also on the plane and I'm sure would not appreciate being attacked while they were on-board.
Now to those posters blaming Republicans or Democrats for the mess we're in. I would just like to remind all of you that BOTH PARTIES were and ARE responsible. Republicans and Democrats are nothing more than flip sides of the same corrupt coin. They try to maintain the appearance of working for the people while bowing down before their powerful money masters.
The only way WE THE PEOPLE might be able to regain control of our government is to vote out of office EVERY incumbent and replace them. If they don't work for the people, kick them out in the next round of elections. It's the politicians who are pitting the people against each other. A divided populace is easy to control... and divided we are.
Face the truth---Thy don't make presidents like they used too. We have had poor choices to pick from the past few years. As the saying goes "There in no honor among thieves." They get up there on the stage and tell every dirty thing their apponents do, and visa versa. They shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house' They do make sure that the Americian people are told what they want to hear. The senate and congress are a bunch of kids that can't thnk or even agree with anything. The white house needs cleaned out, thoes secret service men all need to lose their jobs. They did not life up to their oath, how could they being hung over. But one Marine makes a comment about Obama and his world is shattered. They claim he signed an oath , so didn't Obama and others on Capital Hill. Are these p[eople any better than that Marine. Hell no. So some of you are thinking"Who in the hell is this old batty women. This old woman has been through a depression, World War II. Korea, Vietnam, and now this mess. I have watched President's who have rebuilt America using common sense. Presidents who had honor, who cared about America and her people and belives , and they were for the rights of the people. How many of you out there remember these wars? How many out that remember Hitler's Germany? There is a saying "Be careful for what you ask for, you might just get it" This election year I will vote. I will not vote for OBAMA. I cana't see or find a thing he has done for the elderly, the schools, etc. He has sure done a lot for the big guy Corporates. All that money to keep them afloat and how they enjoyed their cruise, weeks in Las Vegas on money that was a bail out and create more jobs.////