The West Wing Today: May 11, 2010

President Obama is out of the public eye today – as he gets ready for tomorrow’s visit by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The U-S troop surge – and the mission – is far from complete – but Obama still insists American forces will start withdrawing in just 15 months. But the U-S worries that Afghan forces won’t be ready to take over – Obama’s also fed up with Afghanistan’s legendary and pervasive corruption. Meantime, Karzai’s angry and feels he’s being disrespected by the Americans.

But these differences are now being papered over – at least in public. U-S Ambassador to Kabul, Karl EIkenberry.

"President Obama has expressed his confidence in President Karzai and our work together. As you know, every relationship -- every bilateral relationship, especially one that’s as close as we have with Afghanistan, they experience ups and downs."

Meantime – Press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked: WILL the Afghans be able to take over in August 2011?

"Progress is steady but slow. And I think that is likely to continue."

Why August 2011, anyway? Because Obama thinks it’s a good re-election issue. So how’s that timetable working out?

"We're making progress on that."

The clock is ticking.

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The President's Schedule

EDT


9:30AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Economic Daily Briefing
Oval Office
Closed Press

11:20AM THE PRESIDENT meets with senior advisors
Oval Office
Closed Press

12:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT have lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

1:25PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton
Oval Office
Closed Press

1:45PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Eikenberry
Oval Office
Closed Press

2:15PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Senator Leahy
Oval Office
Closed Press

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with General McChrystal and Secretary of Defense Gates
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

2:30PM Briefing by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate

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On This Day

1960: After the U.S. was caught lying by the Soviets in the wake of a U-2 spy plane being shot down, President Eisenhower defended intelligence-gathering activities as "distasteful" but necessary, saying "no one wants another Pearl Harbor."

Presidential Quote

"Arms alone are not enough to keep the peace - it must be kept by men."
- U.S. President John F. Kennedy, 1962.