Obama makes Thanksgiving calls to troops

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 27, 2009

WASHINGTON

President Obama enjoyed a quiet first Thanksgiving at the White House, telephoning U.S. servicemen and women stationed around the world, and spending time with his family and friends.

Obama placed calls from the Oval Office to 10 U.S. servicemen and women -- two each in the Army, Navy, Air Force, the Marines and the Coast Guard -- stationed in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in the Persian Gulf.

The commander in chief, who spent the past several weeks conducting an intensive review of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, called to wish them Happy Thanksgiving and to let them know that he and first lady, Michelle Obama, are "truly thankful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation," according to a statement from the White House yesterday.

Obama plans to announce next Tuesday the results of that review -- a new battle plan for Afghanistan, including an increase in U.S. forces and a strategy for ending America's military involvement there.

He promised this week to "finish the job" started eight years ago, and will lay out the course for doing so in an address to the nation Tuesday from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Afghanistan, the Senate's coming debate on health care, climate change, the economy and other issues were likely to remain high on Obama's agenda during the long weekend.

Obama is staying in Washington, and has no public events scheduled through Sunday.

In his weekly radio and Internet address yesterday, delivered two days earlier than usual, Obama acknowledged the economic difficulties of the past year and discussed the tax cuts and other steps that his administration has taken to help millions of people who are feeling pinched.

He reminded listeners that there is still a lot to be thankful for, such as the kindness of loved ones, the pride they feel in their communities and their country, and the men and women in uniform who are stationed in harm's way.

For their first Thanksgiving as America's first family, the Obamas were joined by about 50 guests, including family, friends and staff members.

The menu was quite extensive: turkey, honey-baked ham, corn bread stuffing, oyster stuffing, greens, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and green-bean casserole.

Also, six kinds of pie: banana cream, pumpkin, apple, sweet potato, huckleberry and cherry.

Obama's favorite Thanksgiving dishes are turkey and pumpkin pie, according to the White House.