Clear Mission Outlined; Costs Addressed

WhiteHouse.Gov

by Glynn Wilson

President Barack Obama called for the deployment of 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan by summer as a prelude to a the beginning of withdrawal from the region by mid-summer 2011, along the way laying out a clear mission for the military but pointing out that it was the Bush administration that took its eye off the “right” war and focused on the “wrong” war in Iraq.

“In early 2003, the decision was made to wage a second war in Iraq,” Obama said, without naming former president George W. Bush or anyone else in his administration that fought the wrong war.

“The wrenching debate over the Iraq war is well-known and need not be repeated here,” Obama said, graciously. “It is enough to say that for the next six years, the Iraq war drew the dominant share of our troops, our resources, our diplomacy, and our national attention — and that the decision to go into Iraq caused substantial rifts between America and much of the world.”

“Today, after extraordinary costs, we are bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end,” the president said. “We will remove our combat brigades from Iraq by the end of next summer, and all of our troops by the end of 2011.”

Later in the speech, after pointing out that it is his duty to outline a clear mission after spending several months reviewing the situation in Afghanistan, he said as Commander-in-Chief, “I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan,” he said. “After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home.”

“I do not make this decision lightly,” he said. “I opposed the war in Iraq precisely because I believe that we must exercise restraint in the use of military force, and always consider the long-term consequences of our actions. We have been at war for eight years, at enormous cost in lives and resources. Years of debate over Iraq and terrorism have left our unity on national security issues in tatters, and created a highly polarized and partisan backdrop for this effort.”

And having just experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, he said, “the American people are understandably focused on rebuilding our economy and putting people to work here at home.”

But he made the decision to send in more troops, “because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda,” he said. “It is from here that we were attacked on 9/11, and it is from here that new attacks are being plotted as I speak. This is no idle danger; no hypothetical threat.”

The president outlined three core elements of U.S. strategy: A military effort to create the conditions for a transition, a civilian surge that reinforces positive action, and an effective partnership with Pakistan.

To meet the goals, he outlined the key objectives in Afghanistan. One, deny al Qaeda a safe-haven. Two, reverse the Taliban’s momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. Three, strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan’s Security Forces and government, “so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan’s future.”

“We will meet these objectives in three ways,” the president said. “First, we will pursue a military strategy that will break the Taliban’s momentum and increase Afghanistan’s capacity over the next 18 months.”

Then, the additional American and international troops will allow the acceleration of handing over responsibility to Afghan forces — and allow the beginnings of transferring U.S. forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011.

“Just as we have done in Iraq,” he said, “we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground.”

The president also outlined a more effective civilian strategy, “so that the government can take advantage of improved security,” he said, and he acknowledged that success in Afghanistan “is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.”

He was up front and honest about the cost of the approach, and said his plan would likely cost roughly $30 billion just for the military this year.

Speech text and video below…

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Surge in Afghanistan as Prelude to Withdrawal?

In a prime-time speech to the nation Tuesday night from West Point, President Barack Obama will outline a surge in troops in Afghanistan as a prelude to an exit strategy from armed conflict in the region.

His speech will propose sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan over six months, with the first Marines to arrive there as early as Christmas, a senior administration official tells The Associated Press.

Critics on the right and left are already lining up against the plan, including Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, who appeared on MSNBC’s “Hardball” Tuesday raising critical questions about the plan (video to follow).

We will be watching and listening to see what the president proposes in his address before passing judgment on it…