DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) - In the midst of an intense, weekslong review of his war strategy in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama spent the early part of Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the return of fallen soldiers.
On a clear fall night, Obama flew by Marine One helicopter to greet the flag-draped caskets of 18 Americans killed this week. They include 10 killed in Monday's helicopter crash and eight killed Tuesday by roadside bombings.
After landing, the president got into a motorcade to a base chapel, where he met privately with families of the fallen Americans.
Obama has upped the U.S. commitment there to 68,000 troops and is considering sending a large addition next year. But officials say it could be fewer than the 40,000 troops requested by his commander there.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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