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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama 'close' to Afghan decision | Obama 'close' to Afghan decision |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama says he is "very close" to deciding whether to send more troops to Afghanistan and will announce his decision within "several weeks". | President Barack Obama says he is "very close" to deciding whether to send more troops to Afghanistan and will announce his decision within "several weeks". |
| Mr Obama also told CNN in China his new strategy would emphasise an "endgame". | |
| The top US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, wants at least 40,000 more US troops. | The top US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, wants at least 40,000 more US troops. |
| An ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests 44% of US adults believe the Afghan war worth fighting, the lowest proportion since polls began in 2007. | An ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests 44% of US adults believe the Afghan war worth fighting, the lowest proportion since polls began in 2007. |
| The US currently has about 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, contributing to a coalition force of more than 100,000. | The US currently has about 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, contributing to a coalition force of more than 100,000. |
| 'Clear benchmarks' | 'Clear benchmarks' |
| I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services Barack Obama Afghans 'blame poverty for war' US troops: Obama's Afghan options Trade talks end Obama China trip | I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services Barack Obama Afghans 'blame poverty for war' US troops: Obama's Afghan options Trade talks end Obama China trip |
| Mr Obama said he did not want his successor as president to inherit the Afghan conflict, adding that a "multi-year occupation" would not serve US interests. | Mr Obama said he did not want his successor as president to inherit the Afghan conflict, adding that a "multi-year occupation" would not serve US interests. |
| The US president made his comments during his trip to Asia, in interviews with NBC News, CNN and CBS News. | The US president made his comments during his trip to Asia, in interviews with NBC News, CNN and CBS News. |
| He pledged to make clear to Americans the reasoning behind his new strategy, and its costs. | He pledged to make clear to Americans the reasoning behind his new strategy, and its costs. |
| "The American people will have a lot of clarity about what we're doing, how we're going to succeed, how much this thing is going to cost, what kind of burden does this place on our young men and women in uniform and, most importantly, what's the end game on this thing," he said. | "The American people will have a lot of clarity about what we're doing, how we're going to succeed, how much this thing is going to cost, what kind of burden does this place on our young men and women in uniform and, most importantly, what's the end game on this thing," he said. |
| In the wake of the political upheaval that surrounded President Hamid Karzai's disputed re-election, Mr Obama also expressed concerns about the Afghan government's ability to be an "effective partner". | In the wake of the political upheaval that surrounded President Hamid Karzai's disputed re-election, Mr Obama also expressed concerns about the Afghan government's ability to be an "effective partner". |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services to its people in a way that confers legitimacy on them," Mr Obama said. | "I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services to its people in a way that confers legitimacy on them," Mr Obama said. |
| "We also have to make sure that we've got an effective partner in Afghanistan. And that's something that we are examining very closely and presenting some very clear benchmarks for the Afghan government." | "We also have to make sure that we've got an effective partner in Afghanistan. And that's something that we are examining very closely and presenting some very clear benchmarks for the Afghan government." |