Ed Morrissey notes a Der Spiegel report that Obama is skipping his planned meeting with U.S. troops in Germany:
++ Visit to US Military Bases Cancelled ++
1:42 p.m.: SPIEGEL ONLINE has learned that Obama has cancelled a planned short visit to the Rammstein and Landstuhl US military bases in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The visits were planned for Friday. "Barack Obama will not be coming to us," a spokesperson for the US military hospital in Landstuhl announced. "I don't know why." Shortly before the same spokeswoman had announced a planned visit by Obama.
Certainly there could be circumstances that justify this, but Obama said this morning: "we've got some down time tonight. What are you guys gonna do in Berlin? Huh? Huh? You guys got any big. plans? ...I've never been to Berlin, so...I would love to tour around a little bit."
It would be egregious for Obama to snub wounded troops from Iraq and Afghanistan at Landstuhl--especially after rejecting an invitation to attend a townhall with veterans, service members, and military families at a U.S. base.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Obama campaign finds a way to make it to Landstuhl. If they don't, it will look like the trip to Iraq and Afghanistan was nothing more than a photo-op with Petraeus and the troops.
