Obama's surprise visit to Afghanistan

May 1, 2012

The longest war in U.S. history - it started in October, 2001 - will slowly ease to a halt by the end of 2014 - unless a new President is elected and decides to stay.

Mr. Obama is scheduled to speak to Americans during a nationally televised address tonight. Getting out of Afghanistan can't come soon enough for most Americans, who have, according to the latest polls, come to believe that the war was simply not worth the cost of American lives (nearly 2,000).

We'll have the latest on the President's surprise visit, and his speech, tonight at 11.

And is it just coincidence that the President's trip happens on the one-year anniversary of Mr. Obama's ordering the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan? Sure. Of course. You bet. Just coincidence.

I'm just sayin'.

We're also on the streets of New York, along with hundreds of protesters, on this May Day. Occupy Wall Street demonstrators are getting the attention, but there are plenty of labor union peeps in the streets as well.

There are demonstrations around the country and around the world. We'll have the story, at 11.

Also at 11, we're in Carmel in Westchester County where a police captain, his wife, and two teenage daughters died this morning in a fire that swept through their home. One adult son managed to escape with minor injuries. We are on the scene, and looking for a cause. Were there working smoke detectors? We just don't know yet.

Mitt Romney was in New York today, and it certainly seemed like he was pitching Mayor Bloomberg for an endorsement. The two had juice and coffee at the Mayor's foundation office on the Upper East Side. And our Dr. Sapna Parikh has a fascinating story about the questions you absolutely positively have to ask your doctor to improve your health and your relationships. Now, aren't you just dying to find out what those questions are? Yes, you are. We invite you to tune in, at 11.

And finally, under the great tidbits of the day heading, it happens behind the wheel 750 billion times a year and is more hazardous than distracted driving. What is it? According to the Society of Automotive Engineers it's not using your turn signal. About half the drivers studied didn't signal a lane change, and a quarter didn't signal a turn.

SIGNAL, PEOPLE!

We'll also have any breaking news of the night, plus Meteorologist Lee Goldberg with his AccuWeather forecast, and Rob Powers with the night's sports. I hope you can join Sade Baderinwa and me, tonight at 11.

BILL RITTER

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