"Good morning. Today, I am announcing a comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"This marks the conclusion of a careful policy review that I ordered as soon as I took office. ... Now, I’d like to speak clearly and candidly to the American people. …
"if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban – or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged – that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can. …
"For the Afghan people, a return to Taliban rule would condemn their country to brutal governance, international isolation, a paralyzed economy, and the denial of basic human rights to the Afghan people – especially women and girls. The return in force of al Qaeda terrorists who would accompany the core Taliban leadership would cast Afghanistan under the shadow of perpetual violence. ...
"We are not in Afghanistan to control that country or to dictate its future. We are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States ...
"To succeed, we and our friends and allies must reverse the Taliban’s gains ...
"There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban. They must be met with force, and they must be defeated. … an enemy that has nothing to offer the Afghan people but terror and repression must be further isolated. And we will continue to support the basic human rights of all Afghans – including women and girls."
Barack Obama - August 17, 2009
That's why I announced a new, comprehensive strategy in March …
“our new strategy has a clear mission and defined goals: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaida and its extremist allies. ...
"In the months since, we have begun to put this comprehensive strategy into action. In recent weeks, we've seen our troops do their part. They've gone into new areas, taking the fight to the Taliban in villages and towns where residents have been terrorized for years. ...
"They're adapting new tactics, knowing that it's not enough to kill extremists and terrorists. We also need to protect the Afghan people and improve their daily lives. ...
"As I said when I announced this strategy, there will be more difficult days ahead. The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight, and we won't defeat it overnight. This will not be quick, nor easy. ...
"But we must never forget: This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which Al Qaida would plot to kill more Americans. ...
"So this is not only a war worth fighting; this is a -- this is fundamental to the defense of our people."
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Comments: 3
"But we must never forget: This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity
What common enemy? It's not a war of choice? He further links Afghanistan to 9/11. They had nothing to do with it. I'm getting tired of the lies from the White House and I do mean including Bush forward.
It's time we got rid of the One Worlders and the push toward Empire Building.
Never mind the only thing he has decided on is the need for an exit strategy before doing anything.