| | Following shoe-pelting attempt, Bush drops in on Afghanistan
 President Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan to let its people know that the United States would not "walk away," the New York Times reported.
It's his second visit to the nation, the first taking place in March 2006.
"It’s the same mission we had before," Bush said when asked how military operations would change as more troops were preparing to enter the country, "to have this young democracy to develop the institutions so it can survive on its own, not to repeat the mistakes of the 1980’s, which is to achieve an objective and leave, and to deny a safe haven for al-Qaeda."
Bush urged the incoming Obama administration to keep troops, which could top 50,000, in Afghanistan past his tenure. "This is a country significantly larger than Iraq, and significantly poorer; the infrastructure is difficult," he said. "Nevertheless the mission is essential. We cannot, you know, achieve our objective of removing – the safe havens, kicking out Taliban – and say, 'Ok, now let's leave.'"
"If I remember violence went up when we went to Iraq with more troops," he added. "So the objective is to provide enough security so that a political system can provide a stable platform for, you know, economic viability, good education, good health care."
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