Some have been critical of the President for flying to Denmark to lobby for Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics. But we have since learned that campaigning before the Olympic committee was not the only order of business for Obama on this trip.

The President met briefly for a photo-op with General Stanley McChrystal, the commander in charge of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The White House is hoping that seeing the President in the same room as the General will assure the public that the commander-in-chief has not abandoned the military in the midst of war. The photos are designed to make it appear that Obama really is listening to his commander.

During their brief conversations between photos, Obama told General McChrystal that he has received his report which contained a request for additional troops. While the President said he hasn’t made a decision yet on the matter, he reminded the general that we don’t always get what we ask for. But Obama assured McChrystal that he and his advisers, even though many of them have no military background, were more capable to determine what the general needed than even McChrystal himself.

Reports later began circulating that the meeting ended with Obama trying to hold back laughter as General McChrystal exited the room with a “kick me” sign taped to his back.

When asked about this, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said there may have been a sign taped to the general’s back, but he did not know what it said. But he added that if the sign did say “kick me,” he assured reporters that neither the President, nor any of his aides, literally kicked the general.

I.M. Cirius