US President Obama delivers address on Afghanistan plan

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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Barack Obama's Afghanistan Strategy Speech

Tuesday evening, United States President Barack Obama went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, to deliver a televised address to announce his new approach to the War in Afghanistan.

President Obama announced an increase of 30,000 US troops to be sent to Afghanistan.

"The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace possible – so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans," said the President.

"These additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011.

Obama said that Afghanistan is not another Vietnam War and that the best approach is not to leave. However, he rejected a semi-permanent US presence that exceeds US needs and capabilities.

He said the US must be nimble and concise in combating Al-Qaeda wherever it might appear.

Obama said that America has underwritten global security for more than 60 years and that America seeks a better future that can only be achieved if "other peoples' children can live in freedom."

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Sources

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Wikinews

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

"Barack Obama orders 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan" — BBC News Online, December 2, 2009
Barack Obama. "President Obama Speaks on Afghanistan Policy" — Executive Office of the President of the United States, December 1, 2009 Live feed
Press Release: "Excerpts of the President's Address to the Nation" — Executive Office of the President of the United States, December 1, 2009
Don Gonyea. "West Point A Familiar Setting For Obama War Speech" — National Public Radio, December 1, 2009
David Stout. "Obama to Urge Afghans ‘Into the Fight’" — The New York Times, December 1, 2009

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