Main points of Obama's new Afghanistan plan
WEST POINT - In a landmark speech Tuesday at the US Military
Academy at West Point, President Barack Obama outlined a new plan
for winning the war in Afghanistan and bringing US troops
home.
Here are the main points of Obama's plan to disrupt, dismantle and
defeat Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and prevent the Taliban Islamist
insurgency from providing it a safe haven:
30,000 additional
troops:
Stressing that a troop surge was "in our vital national interest,"
Obama ordered a swift surge of 30,000 new US troops to Afghanistan
within six months to "seize the initiative" and finally end the
unpopular eight-year war.
Pentagon officials said an initial US Marine deployment would
arrive in country by Christmas.
A way home
beginning in mid-2011:
Obama insisted he will start bringing back US troops beginning July
2011.
"After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the
resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building
Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our
forces out of Afghanistan."
"We must deny Al-Qaeda a safe haven:"
Like the George W. Bush administration before it, the Obama
administration says the Islamist Taliban in Afghanistan harbors
Al-Qaeda extremists.
Obama said the extra US troops will help eliminate Al-Qaeda safe
havens along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Additional
international troops:
"This is not just America's war," Obama insisted, stepping up the
pressure on NATO allies to match him by providing more
troops.
In a fact sheet released during Obama's speech, the White House
said "we will be discussing additional alliance contributions - in
troops, trainers, and resources - in the days and weeks
ahead."
US officials in Kabul say there are about 70,000 US troops in the
country, plus around 42,000 more from allied nations.
Handing over responsibility to the Afghans:
Obama set as a priority the expanded training of a competent Afghan
security force to take over from international forces and put the
future of the country in Afghan hands.
The additional US troops "will allow us to accelerate handing over
responsibility to Afghan forces."
US forces would continue to advise and assist Afghan forces, Obama
said, "but it will be clear to the Afghan government - and, more
importantly, to the Afghan people - that they will ultimately be
responsible for their own country."
Capacity building
for civil society:
Obama said a "civilian surge" in Afghanistan was necessary and that
the United States would work closely with the United Nations and
Afghans to build capacity in the country.
But Obama stressed such US aid would be based on performance, and
that "the days of providing a blank check are over."
His administration would work with Afghan ministries and local
leaders who "combat corruption and deliver for the people," and
implement a civilian-military agriculture redevelopment strategy to
help restore the country's once vibrant agriculture sector.
Taliban
amnesty:
The White House said a key element of its political strategy "will
be supporting Afghan-led efforts to reintegrate Taliban who
renounce Al-Qaeda, lay down their arms, and engage in the political
process."
An effective partnership with Pakistan:
Obama insisted that success in Afghanistan "is inextricably linked
to our partnership with Pakistan," and said the United States is
committed to an expanded partnership with Afghanistan's
nuclear-armed neighbor.
He announced US intention to strengthen Pakistan's capacity to
target extremist groups and make it clear to Islamabad that
Washington would no longer tolerate Al-Qaeda safe havens in
Pakistan.
He also reiterated Washington's support for Pakistan's democracy
and development, pledging that "America will remain a strong
supporter of Pakistan's security and prosperity long after the guns
have fallen silent."
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/World/Story/A1Story20091202-183500.html
Transcript of U.S. President Barack Obama's speech on
Afghanistan
http://en.rian.ru/world/20091202/157063990.html