Hagel makes surprise visit to Kabul
Chuck Hagel was sworn in as the new secretary of defense on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013.
Hagel is in Kabul on a surprise visit, his first to Afghanistan since being appointed as defense secretary.
His last visit to the region was in 2008 with then-senator Obama, who was campaigning for the presidency.
The US defense chief has planned meetings with commanders as well as President Hamid Karzai, who has pushed for the downsizing of American troops despite the 66,000 that remain on the ground, according to Reuters.
"I need to better understand what's going on," Hagel told reporters as he flew to Kabul, adding his goal was to "make my own assessment and listen to our commanders."
"We have a lot of big issues and challenges ahead as we prepare for a responsible transition," he said, Agence France-Presse reported.
Chuck Hagel was confirmed February 26 and sworn in as defense secretary the next day. He will be highly influential in shaping the final phase of the Afghanistan war, including decisions about how many US soldiers to leave in the country post-withdrawal in 2014, Reuters pointed out.
More from GlobalPost: Chuck Hagel sworn in as defense secretary (VIDEO)
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever! Every gift will be matched 2:1, so your impact will go even further.