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| 'The mission will not change': Obama to keep troops in Afghanistan – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.45pm BST16:45 | |
| “Obama’s move will inevitably be seen as reflecting lack of confidence in the Afghan security force,” writes Simon Tisdall, the Guardian’s foreign affairs columnist in London, “despite billions of dollars spent in training and arming them in the past decade.” | |
| At the same time, it is hard to see how the decision to keep at least 5,500 American troops in-country for an apparently indefinite period, backed up, as now, with US combat aircraft and CIA drones, will make a significant difference. | |
| The remaining troops will be confined, Bosnia-like, to fortified camps at Bagram airfield – the largest US military base in the country – Jalalabad in the east, and Kandahar in the south. Again like in Bosnia in the 1990s, when American commanders appeared obsessed with “force protection” to the exclusion of more engaged roles, the troops will not take part in combat. | |
| The U-turn on US policy could have serious implications for the 2016 race for president, he continues, since former secretary of state Hillary Clinton helped engineer American policy toward Afghanistan – and since it will fall to her or someone else to manage US forces in Afghanistan come 2017. The winners and losers are stark, in his estimation. | |
| The Taliban must be loving this confusion in the heart of Washington. So too must al-Qaida and Islamic State, which has been busy setting up shop in Afghanistan in the wake of Nato’s withdrawal. | |
| The losers, once again, are the Afghan people, trapped between frantic incompetence and fanatical intolerance. It is no accident that, after Syrians, Afghans are said to make up the largest proportion of migrants making for safety in Europe. | |
| Related: Obama U-turn on troops withdrawal makes Afghanistan an election issue | |
| 4.32pm BST16:32 | |
| The Guardian’s national security editor, Spencer Ackerman, injects some skepticism into his snap reaction to the president’s speech. | |
| Obama: "I do not support the idea of endless war." Just the practice, then. | |
| The New York Times’ Peter Baker meanwhile notes the implicit rebuke to former Afghan president Hamid Karzai; Pentagon and administration officials have been praising Ghani for weeks, and rarely, if ever, mention his predecessor, who disputed US troop proposals for years. | |
| In keeping troops in Afghanistan, Obama emphasizes his reliance on Ghani, who US officials feel much better about than Karzai. | |
| 4.23pm BST16:23 | |
| Obama defends the strategy of re-evaluation and “adjustments”. | |
| “Understand, relative to what was involved when we were in an active combat role and actively engaged in war in Afghanistan,” Obama says, “that was a very different scenario.” | |
| He says the US will continue to keep pressure on the Afghan government to make its own progress, but “we’ve got to be a steady partner for them.” | |
| With that he leaves the podium. | |
| 4.21pm BST16:21 | |
| A reporter asks Obama whether this decision is disappointing. He replies to say it’s not. | |
| “What I’m encouraged by is the fact that we have a government that is serious about the prospects of trying to provide security,” Obama says. | |
| We have a majority of Afghans who want to partner with us and the international community to try and achieve those goals … and we’ve always known that we have to maintain a counter-terrorism operation in that region, in order to tamp down any re-emergence of any active al-Qaida networks, or any other networks, that might try to do us harm. | |
| He says the plan is “consistent” with discussions and strategies over the past few years, which has been based on re-evaluating balance: “As Afghans are out there, they’re doing what they need to do, but that we are giving them a chance to succeed, and that we’re making sure our force posture … we can do so relatively safely.” | |
| Updated at 4.21pm BST | |
| 4.18pm BST16:18 | |
| Obama now addresses the American people, saying he still does not support “endless wars” that do not serve American national security interests. | |
| But “I am firmly convinced we should make this extra government,” he says. | |
| He says that in the Afghan government there is a partner who wants US help, and tells the story of an Afghan soldier who asked for greater help from the US. | |
| After so many years of war, Afghanistan will not be a perfect place. It’s a poor country, that will have to work hard on its development. There will continue to be contested areas. But Afghans liek these are stnading up for their country. If they were to fail it would endanger the security of us all. And we’ve made an enormous investment in a stable Afghanistan.” | |
| “This modest but meaningful extension of our presence, while sticking to our current narrow missions, can make a real difference. It’s the right thing to do.” | |
| Updated at 4.23pm BST | |
| 4.15pm BST16:15 | |
| To the Afghan people, who have suffered so much, America’s commitment to you and to a secure, stable and unified Afghanistan, that remains firm. | |
| Our two nations have built a strong relations … Today is a reminder that the United States keeps its commitment. | |
| “To our men and women in uniform, I know this means that some of you will rotate back,” he says. “Afghanistan remains dangerous. Twenty-five Americans have given their lives there this year. I do not send you into harms way lightly.” | |
| But as your commander in chief I believe this mission is vital to our national security interests in protecting the United States from terrorist attacks. | |
| Updated at 4.18pm BST | |
| 4.14pm BST16:14 | |
| “And finally because development and governance” are the foundations of a stable country, Obama says, “we will continue to support President Ghani and the national unity government as they continue to support provisional reforms. | |
| He praises Ghani’s fight against corruption and the appointment of new governors for provinces. | |
| “We also discussed the possibility of a reconciliation” with the Taliban and Pakistan, Obama says, adding that the only way to accomplish a troop drawdown is to find a political solution. | |
| Updated at 4.18pm BST | |
| 4.12pm BST16:12 | |
| “In key areas of the country the security situation is still very fragile and there is still risk of deterioration,” Obama says. | |
| Fortunately, in president Ghani and the unity government there is [a partner] that supports a strong partnership with the United States. | |
| He says he’s announcing steps “I’m convinced offer the best possibiltiy for lasting” peace in Afghanistan. | |
| He says he’s going to maintain the current number of 9,800 troops through “most of next year”. “Their mission will not change … but maintaining our currnet posture through most of next year, rather than a drawdown, will allow us to” continue to support Afghan forces, he says. | |
| “Second I’ve decided instead of going down to a normal embassy presence inside of Kabul by the end of 2016, we will retain 5,500 troops” in Kabul, Kandahar and a third city. “Again, our mission will not change … but these bases will give us the presence and the reach” to complete US missions, he says.” | |
| (The US uses these bases for major drone strikes.) | |
| Updated at 4.18pm BST | |
| 4.09pm BST16:09 | 4.09pm BST16:09 |
| “Afghan security forces continue to step up,” Obama says, adding that this is the first fighting season where they’re mostly on their own. | “Afghan security forces continue to step up,” Obama says, adding that this is the first fighting season where they’re mostly on their own. |
| He says Afghan security forces “continue to hold most urban areas, and when as the Taliban has made gains, as in Kunduz, Afghan forces backed by coalition forces have been able to push them back. This has come at a very heavy price.” | He says Afghan security forces “continue to hold most urban areas, and when as the Taliban has made gains, as in Kunduz, Afghan forces backed by coalition forces have been able to push them back. This has come at a very heavy price.” |
| But “at this time Afghan forces are still not as strong as they need to be.” | But “at this time Afghan forces are still not as strong as they need to be.” |
| 4.08pm BST16:08 | 4.08pm BST16:08 |
| He praises the work of US military personnel who’ve “struck devastating lbows against al-Qaida leadership” and “delivered justice against Osama bin Laden” | He praises the work of US military personnel who’ve “struck devastating lbows against al-Qaida leadership” and “delivered justice against Osama bin Laden” |
| “They pushed the Taliban back so the Afghan people could reclaim their villages, send their daughters to school.” | “They pushed the Taliban back so the Afghan people could reclaim their villages, send their daughters to school.” |
| “Today, American forces no longer patrol Afghan villages or valleys,” he adds. | “Today, American forces no longer patrol Afghan villages or valleys,” he adds. |
| “Those missions now belong to Afghans, who are fully responsible for securing their country. But as I’ve said before, while America’s combat mission in Afghanistan may be over,” its mission to its people endures, he says. | “Those missions now belong to Afghans, who are fully responsible for securing their country. But as I’ve said before, while America’s combat mission in Afghanistan may be over,” its mission to its people endures, he says. |
| As commander in chief he says he won’t allow terrorist safe havens to persist, and that the forces will have “Two narrow but critical missions: training Afghan forces and supporting counter terrorism operations against the remnants of al-Qaida.” | As commander in chief he says he won’t allow terrorist safe havens to persist, and that the forces will have “Two narrow but critical missions: training Afghan forces and supporting counter terrorism operations against the remnants of al-Qaida.” |
| 4.05pm BST16:05 | 4.05pm BST16:05 |
| The president takes the podium, flanked by vice-president Joe Biden and Pentagon chief Ash Carter. | The president takes the podium, flanked by vice-president Joe Biden and Pentagon chief Ash Carter. |
| “Last December, more than 13 years after the United States was attacked by al-Qaida,” he begins, the US’s combat mission came to an end. | “Last December, more than 13 years after the United States was attacked by al-Qaida,” he begins, the US’s combat mission came to an end. |
| 3.51pm BST15:51 | 3.51pm BST15:51 |
| Ahead of the president’s speech, senator John McCain, the chairman of the armed services committee and a vehement supporter of keeping US troops in Afghanistan, has said he is “pleased” by the decision. | Ahead of the president’s speech, senator John McCain, the chairman of the armed services committee and a vehement supporter of keeping US troops in Afghanistan, has said he is “pleased” by the decision. |
| However, I am concerned that the number of troops will not be sufficient to perform the critical tasks being set for them: counterterrorism and continuing to train and advise our Afghan partners. | However, I am concerned that the number of troops will not be sufficient to perform the critical tasks being set for them: counterterrorism and continuing to train and advise our Afghan partners. |
| It is highly unlikely that a force level of 5,500 troops was recommended as the best professional judgment of our senior military leaders and commanders on the ground in Afghanistan. | It is highly unlikely that a force level of 5,500 troops was recommended as the best professional judgment of our senior military leaders and commanders on the ground in Afghanistan. |
| The bottom line is that 5,500 troops will only be adequate to conduct either the counterterrorism or the train and advise mission, but not both. Our military commanders have said that both are critical to prevent Afghanistan from spiraling into chaos. | The bottom line is that 5,500 troops will only be adequate to conduct either the counterterrorism or the train and advise mission, but not both. Our military commanders have said that both are critical to prevent Afghanistan from spiraling into chaos. |
| McCain says in the statement that Obama is putting the mission and American forces “at greater risk, and he is doing so for the sake of a troop reduction that has no political benefit, but could have significant military implications.” | McCain says in the statement that Obama is putting the mission and American forces “at greater risk, and he is doing so for the sake of a troop reduction that has no political benefit, but could have significant military implications.” |
| All of us want the war in Afghanistan to be over, but after 14 years of hard-fought gains, the decisions we make now will determine whether our progress will endure and our sacrifices will not have been in vain. | All of us want the war in Afghanistan to be over, but after 14 years of hard-fought gains, the decisions we make now will determine whether our progress will endure and our sacrifices will not have been in vain. |
| He concludes by saying he’d rather have Obama’s successor – whoever wins the White House more than a year from now – decide what to do with Afghanistan. | He concludes by saying he’d rather have Obama’s successor – whoever wins the White House more than a year from now – decide what to do with Afghanistan. |
| 3.37pm BST15:37 | 3.37pm BST15:37 |
| Hello and welcome to our coverage of Barack Obama’s statement on American forces in Afghanistan, where the US’s 14-year war against the Taliban and jihadi groups is expected to continue past his term and despite his longstanding promise to withdraw from the country. | Hello and welcome to our coverage of Barack Obama’s statement on American forces in Afghanistan, where the US’s 14-year war against the Taliban and jihadi groups is expected to continue past his term and despite his longstanding promise to withdraw from the country. |
| The president’s statement follows weeks of worsening developments for the US and its allies in Kabul. According to the UN, the Taliban now controls more of Afghanistan than an at any point since 2001, before a US-led coalition invaded the country. | The president’s statement follows weeks of worsening developments for the US and its allies in Kabul. According to the UN, the Taliban now controls more of Afghanistan than an at any point since 2001, before a US-led coalition invaded the country. |
| The Taliban’s temporary capture of Kunduz, a major northern city, underscored Kabul’s waning influence, and the accidental US bombing of a hospital suggested that an increasingly chaotic and confused stage of war threatens the country. | The Taliban’s temporary capture of Kunduz, a major northern city, underscored Kabul’s waning influence, and the accidental US bombing of a hospital suggested that an increasingly chaotic and confused stage of war threatens the country. |
| The US currently has about 9,800 troops in Afghanistan, and Obama is set to announce that 5,500 will remain there through the end of his term in early 2017, according to senior administration officials. The revised strategy mirrors the return of US military personnel to Iraq, where Obama similarly sought a withdrawal. | The US currently has about 9,800 troops in Afghanistan, and Obama is set to announce that 5,500 will remain there through the end of his term in early 2017, according to senior administration officials. The revised strategy mirrors the return of US military personnel to Iraq, where Obama similarly sought a withdrawal. |
| Other Nato members in Afghanistan, including Germany, Turkey and the UK, will likely also extend their presence in the country. | Other Nato members in Afghanistan, including Germany, Turkey and the UK, will likely also extend their presence in the country. |