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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama vows no rush on Afghanistan | Obama vows no rush on Afghanistan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has said he will "never rush" a decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, as he comes under pressure to set out a new policy. | US President Barack Obama has said he will "never rush" a decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, as he comes under pressure to set out a new policy. |
| Speaking to servicemen and women at a Florida naval base, Mr Obama said he would not risk their lives "unless it is absolutely necessary". | Speaking to servicemen and women at a Florida naval base, Mr Obama said he would not risk their lives "unless it is absolutely necessary". |
| Earlier, he met his national security team again for talks on Afghan policy. | Earlier, he met his national security team again for talks on Afghan policy. |
| Correspondents say Mr Obama's words may be a response to ex-Vice President Dick Cheney's suggestion he was "dithering". | Correspondents say Mr Obama's words may be a response to ex-Vice President Dick Cheney's suggestion he was "dithering". |
| The White House has said a decision on a new strategy for Afghanistan, including troop numbers, will be made in the coming weeks, but critics say the process is taking too long. | The White House has said a decision on a new strategy for Afghanistan, including troop numbers, will be made in the coming weeks, but critics say the process is taking too long. |
| The top US military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has asked for at least 40,000 more US troops there. | The top US military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has asked for at least 40,000 more US troops there. |
| Meanwhile, Afghanistan's incumbent President Hamid Karzai and his election challenger Abdullah Abdullah are preparing for a run-off vote due to take place on 7 November. | Meanwhile, Afghanistan's incumbent President Hamid Karzai and his election challenger Abdullah Abdullah are preparing for a run-off vote due to take place on 7 November. |
| 'Gross mishandling' | 'Gross mishandling' |
| Speaking at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida, Mr Obama said: "I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way." | Speaking at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida, Mr Obama said: "I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way." |
| He also promised that if it was necessary to send servicemen to war, the US would back them "up to the hilt". | He also promised that if it was necessary to send servicemen to war, the US would back them "up to the hilt". |
| "Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, the defined goals, as well as the equipment and support you need to get the job done," he said. | "Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, the defined goals, as well as the equipment and support you need to get the job done," he said. |
| Dick Cheney has now come out of retirement to criticise President Obama for taking the time to examine assumptions before sending troops into war Democratic Senator John Kerry | Dick Cheney has now come out of retirement to criticise President Obama for taking the time to examine assumptions before sending troops into war Democratic Senator John Kerry |
| Earlier, he had held a sixth meeting with his national security advisers at the White House to discuss policy options. | Earlier, he had held a sixth meeting with his national security advisers at the White House to discuss policy options. |
| Mr Cheney said last week: "The White House must stop dithering while America's armed forces are in danger. | Mr Cheney said last week: "The White House must stop dithering while America's armed forces are in danger. |
| "It's time for President Obama to do what it takes to win a war he has repeatedly and rightly called a war of necessity." | "It's time for President Obama to do what it takes to win a war he has repeatedly and rightly called a war of necessity." |
| Democratic Senator John Kerry - who was with Mr Karzai in Kabul last week when he announced there would be a run-off vote - responded on Monday with his own attack on Afghan policy under Republican President George W Bush and Mr Cheney. | Democratic Senator John Kerry - who was with Mr Karzai in Kabul last week when he announced there would be a run-off vote - responded on Monday with his own attack on Afghan policy under Republican President George W Bush and Mr Cheney. |
| Speaking to the Council of Foreign Relations think tank in Washington, he accused the Bush administration of "grossly mishandling" the Afghan war. | Speaking to the Council of Foreign Relations think tank in Washington, he accused the Bush administration of "grossly mishandling" the Afghan war. |
| He said the Bush administration had left a terrible inheritance in Afghanistan, which Mr Obama had tackled "on day one". | He said the Bush administration had left a terrible inheritance in Afghanistan, which Mr Obama had tackled "on day one". |
| "After eight years of neglecting Afghanistan as vice-president, Dick Cheney has now come out of retirement to criticise President Obama for taking the time to examine assumptions before sending troops into war," Mr Kerry said. | "After eight years of neglecting Afghanistan as vice-president, Dick Cheney has now come out of retirement to criticise President Obama for taking the time to examine assumptions before sending troops into war," Mr Kerry said. |