This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8389778.stm

The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Obama unveils new Afghan strategy Obama unveils new Afghan strategy
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is delivering a speech spelling out his review of Afghan strategy and is ordering a surge of 30,000 additional US troops.US President Barack Obama is delivering a speech spelling out his review of Afghan strategy and is ordering a surge of 30,000 additional US troops.
Mr Obama is also setting out how the US will approach its exit strategy and is urging allies to send more troops.Mr Obama is also setting out how the US will approach its exit strategy and is urging allies to send more troops.
The new deployment over six months will bring America's troop strength in the country to more than 100,000, in the fight against Taliban militants.The new deployment over six months will bring America's troop strength in the country to more than 100,000, in the fight against Taliban militants.
Mr Obama believes the surge will help prepare the handover to Afghan forces.Mr Obama believes the surge will help prepare the handover to Afghan forces.
Taliban threat
Mr Obama is delivering his nationally televised speech to cadets at the West Point military academy in New York.
He began by stressing that the US was in Afghanistan because of the 9/11 attacks on America by al-Qaeda militants.
MARDELL'S AMERICA The danger for the president is that this middling figure will annoy hawks, while annoying those who think any new build-up is undesirable Read Mark's thoughts in full Send us your comments
"Al-Qaeda's base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harboured by the Taliban - a ruthless, repressive and radical movement," he said.
After being "driven from power and pushed back on its heels", the Taliban had returned, backed by al-Qaeda from its new base in Pakistan, he said.
"Gradually, the Taliban has begun to take control over swaths of Afghanistan, while engaging in increasingly brazen and devastating acts of terrorism against the Pakistani people," Mr Obama said.
However, he added: "Afghanistan is not lost but for several years it has moved backwards."
US forces, he said, lacked "the full support they need to effectively train and partner with Afghan security forces and better secure the population".
"I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan," he told the cadets.
"After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home."
Domestic unease
Mr Obama reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.
TROOP NUMBERS IN AFGHANISTAN US: More than 100,000 by July 2010Other foreign (mainly Nato): Some 32,000 currently, with a British offer of 500 moreAfghan National Army: 94,000 Map: Foreign forces in Afghanistan
It is the second time he is increasing the US contingent in Afghanistan after a reinforcement of 17,000 troops in February.
Some 32,000 other foreign troops are serving in Afghanistan but Nato allies have been cautious about contributing further forces.
Earlier, the US president outlined his new strategy to Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in an hour-long video conference.
He told Mr Karzai that US efforts in Afghanistan were not "open-ended" and would be measured against goals over a two-year period, the White House said.
Rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan - and August's discredited elections have fanned mounting domestic opposition to the eight-year-old war.
Earlier this year, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned America risked failure unless troop numbers were increased. He requested 40,000 more soldiers.
Nato officials said on Tuesday that President Obama had asked European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan.
Western occupation has become a role of "nation-building", not combat Mark Bennett BBC News website reader, Kentucky Have your say
But France ruled out deploying more combat soldiers, though it might send military trainers, while Germany said it would wait until after a 28 January conference in London on Afghanistan before deciding on any troop increases.
On Monday, Britain confirmed it was sending 500 more troops, taking the UK's total deployment to 10,000.
Italy has also said it will increase its force, although without saying by how much.