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| Obama unveils new Afghan strategy | Obama unveils new Afghan strategy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has delivered a speech spelling out his review of Afghan strategy and has ordered a surge of 30,000 additional US troops. | |
| Mr Obama also set out how the US would approach its exit strategy and urged 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 | Taliban threat |
| Mr Obama delivered 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. | 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 | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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." | 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". | 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. | "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." | "After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home." |
| Mr Obama said he was aware of the gravity of his decision to send the extra troops. | Mr Obama said he was aware of the gravity of his decision to send the extra troops. |
| "I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said. | "I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said. |
| "This is the epicentre of the violent extremism practised by al-Qaeda." | "This is the epicentre of the violent extremism practised by al-Qaeda." |
| 'Common security at stake' | 'Common security at stake' |
| Calling on America's allies to boost their troop commitment, Mr Obama said: "Some have already provided additional troops, and we are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. | Calling on America's allies to boost their troop commitment, Mr Obama said: "Some have already provided additional troops, and we are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead. |
| Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly Barack Obama | Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly Barack Obama |
| "Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what's at stake is not simply a test of Nato's credibility - what's at stake is the security of our allies, and the common security of the world." | "Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now, we must come together to end this war successfully. For what's at stake is not simply a test of Nato's credibility - what's at stake is the security of our allies, and the common security of the world." |
| Mr Obama said the US would take the Iraq experience as its model for withdrawal. | Mr Obama said the US would take the Iraq experience as its model for withdrawal. |
| "Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground," he said. | "Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground," he said. |
| America, added, "will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan's security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul". | America, added, "will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan's security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul". |
| "But it will be clear to the Afghan government - and, more importantly, to the Afghan people - that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country," he stressed. | "But it will be clear to the Afghan government - and, more importantly, to the Afghan people - that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country," he stressed. |
| 'Not Vietnam' | |
| Some in America feared that the country was being drawn into a new Vietnam, Mr Obama said. | |
| 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 | |
| "They argue that it cannot be stabilised, and we are better off cutting our losses and rapidly withdrawing," he said. | |
| "Yet this argument depends upon a false reading of history. Unlike Vietnam, we are joined by a broad coalition of 43 nations that recognises the legitimacy of our action. | |
| "Unlike Vietnam, we are not facing a broad-based popular insurgency. | |
| "And most importantly, unlike Vietnam, the American people were viciously attacked from Afghanistan, and remain a target for those same extremists who are plotting along its border." | |
| The US president warned that the fight against extremism would be neither easy nor quick, and that it extended far beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan. | |
| "It will be an enduring test of our free society, and our leadership in the world," he said. | |
| Other priorities he outlined included enhancing US domestic security, preventing nuclear materials falling into the hands of terrorists and forging better ties with the Muslim world. | |
| Domestic unease | Domestic unease |
| Mr Obama reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers. | Mr Obama reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers. |
| Western occupation has become a role of "nation-building", not combat Mark Bennett BBC News website reader, Kentucky href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7299&edition=2">Have your say | |
| It is the second time he is increasing the US contingent in Afghanistan after a reinforcement of 17,000 troops in February. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Nato officials said on Tuesday that President Obama had asked European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan. | Nato officials said on Tuesday that President Obama had asked European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | Italy has also said it will increase its force, although without saying by how much. |