But back on topic. The biggest long term political impact of this disaster has to be the loss of senior military officials. Presidents come and go, were going to get another one soon anyway.
In Kabul, the American who leads allied forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Gen. David Petraeus, offered his condolences. He was in Poland days earlier to meet with its military leaders.
"Almost everybody who was sitting on the other side of the table at my meeting with the general staff is no longer with us," Petraeus said.
That will probably have more of an impact than losing the president.