Darlene at Protein Wisdom writing about President Obama’s photo-op at Dover Air Force Base, for the return trip home of KIA soldier’s from Afghanistan

One way or the other, this event provided a grow-up-now moment for our President, one that will likely influence his (hopefully soon to come) decision on General McChrystal’s request for 40,000 additional troops.

I’d have thought much more of President Obama if he hadn’t of turned it into a photo-op. But I am thankful that he went and paid his respect to the men and women who follow his command. And I hope it had the full emotional impact that it should have carried on our President.

The president arrived at Dover AFB at 12:34am after 40-minute chopper ride from the White House. An Air Force C-17 carrying the 18 fallen U.S. personnel had arrived at Dover before the president. Among the dead on board were 7 U.S. Army soldiers and 3 DEA agents killed when their MH-47 Chinook crashed at Darreh-ye-bum, and 8 U.S. soldiers killed when their STRYKER personnel vehicle was struck by IED blast in the Arghandab River Valley.

It was a somber event.

The military confirmed the name of only one of the soldiers whose transfer the President witnessed: Sgt Dale R. Griffin, from Terre Haute, Indiana, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom.

At one point before the dignified transfers, President Obama spent time on the plane, accompanied by just Beers, otherwise alone with the eighteen fallen.

At 3:39 am the President walked up the ramp of the C-17 to attend a short prayer given by Major Richard S. Bach, an Air Force chaplain. Obama emerged minutes later, the last in a line of personnel, and stood at attention in the cool night breeze, his hands cupped at his side.

At 3:50 am the flag-draped transfer case–not a coffin or casket–was carried from the plane to a waiting vehicle while all those participating saluted.

Griffin’s family gave permission for the media to cover the transfer.

…

Obama’s participation in this sad military tradition comes at a critical time for the President, as he weighs sending as many as 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan. .

I’ve been on too many of these airport escort missions with the Patriot Guard Riders. I’ve stood on the tarmac with the parents, spouses, and children of fallen Soldiers as they watched the airplanes land with the remains of their beloved.

For most of these families, this is the first time seeing their Soldier since finding out the tragic news of their deaths, and the emotions of the moment of first seeing that flag-draped coming off the airplane is overwhelming.

RightWingNutHouse thinks and hopes that Obama’s experience at Dover was a glimpse at the real man, and a somber experience for President Obama:

But that doesn’t mean we can’t see him as a human being. And the burden he carries as Commander in Chief was brought home to him, I’m sure, last night with his unannounced trip to Dover Air Force Base to welcome home fallen heroes.

Hopefully Darlene is right, and Obama will do the right thing and listen to his Generals, rather than his civilian advisers.