Obama speech next week: More troops for Afghan

[unhappycamper]

President Barack Obama holds a meeting on Afghanistan in the Situation Room of the White House on Monday.


Obama speech next week: More troops for Afghan
By Anne Gearan – The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 24, 2009 19:27:10 EST

WASHINGTON — War-weary Americans will support more fighting in Afghanistan once they understand the perils of losing, President Barack Obama declared today, announcing he was ready to spell out war plans virtually sure to include tens of thousands more U.S. troops.

He is expected to make his case to the nation in a speech Tuesday, even as the military completes plans to begin sending in reinforcements in the spring.

Eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks led the U.S. into Afghanistan, Obama said it is still in America’s vital national interest to “dismantle and destroy” al-Qaida terrorists and extremist allies. “I intend to finish the job,” he said.

Obama said he would announce after Thanksgiving his decision on additional troops, and military, congressional and other sources said the occasion would be a televised speech Tuesday laying out his plans for expanding the Afghan conflict — and then ultimately ending America’s military role.

Republican critics have been pressing him for months to decide on a next step in Afghanistan, but Obama has said repeatedly he was more concerned with making a decision that was right rather than quick.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_obama_speech_112409/