President Obama thanks troops and poses for a few hundred photos

By Greg Jaffe

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent part of their Christmas Day at this Marine base thanking U.S. troops for their work and posing for a few hundred photographs.

The event, which has become an annual tradition for the Obamas, came less than a week after six U.S. airmen were killed in a suicide bombing while on patrol outside of Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base.

Obama’s remarks to about 460 service members and their families briefly acknowledged the losses. “Even though we have been able to reduce the number of folks who are deployed in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, there are still folks over there every single day and it’s still dangerous,” he said. He described the six airmen as “outstanding brave Americans.”

The attack was the deadliest day of 2015 for U.S. troops and comes at the end of a year in which the president scrapped his plans to end the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan before he leaves office. Obama also approved modest increases this year to the U.S. force of about 3,500 troops training and advising Iraq troops, and he sent about 50 Special Operations soldiers to Syria.

“Whatever service you are in, whatever branch, we are extraordinarily grateful for everything you do every single day,” he told the troops at the Marine base.

With the first lady at his side, Obama spoke of the sacrifices that have come with 14 years of war. “We know when you are deployed overseas, it's tough,” he said.

The event at the Marine base, though, was more celebratory than somber. The president spotted a few new babies in the crowd and said he was looking forward to taking pictures with them.

“We always get our baby fix,” he said of the annual visit.

He also joked of the perils of working out in the mornings at the base, which is just down the street from his vacation compound in Kailua.

“Your commander in chief is in pretty good shape,” Obama said. But, lifting weights next to Marines made him feel "small," he said.  He described the humbling morning workouts as  “inspiration to work harder next year.”

And with that, the president and first lady stepped into a room behind the chow hall where Obama was speaking to pose for photos with the troops.