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Obama orders Afghan troop surge Obama orders Afghan troop surge
(30 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 soldiers.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 soldiers.
Mr Obama also set out how the US would approach its exit strategy and urged allies to send more soldiers. 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.
Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly Barack Obama Full text of speech
Mr Obama reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.
Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, welcomed the speech, saying he had been given "a clear military mission" and the necessary resources.
Some 32,000 other foreign troops are serving in Afghanistan but Nato allies have been cautious about contributing further forces.
The White House wants to convey that this is Barack Obama's war and he is clear about the aims he wants to achieve, the BBC's Matthew Price reports from West Point.
Taliban threatTaliban threat
Mr Obama delivered his nationally televised speech to cadets at the West Point military academy in New York.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. 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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2009/12/obamas_afghan_announcement.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full
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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/2009/12/obamas_afghan_announcement.html">Read Mark's thoughts in full class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7299&edition=2">Send us your comments Stressing that the US was in Afghanistan because of the 9/11 attacks on America by al-Qaeda militants, he said that their Taliban allies had "begun to take control over swaths of Afghanistan" while committing "devastating acts of terrorism" against Pakistan.
"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".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.
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
"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 but he urged Americans not to see the conflict as a new Vietnam War.
"I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said. America was backed by a "broad coalition of 43 nations", he said, and was not facing a "broad-based popular insurgency".
"This is the epicentre of the violent extremism practised by al-Qaeda." "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 leader added.
'Common security at stake' Calling on America's allies to boost their troop commitment, Mr Obama said: "What's at stake is the security of our allies, and the common security of the world."
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. The US would take the Iraq experience as its model for withdrawal, he added.
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."
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". Pledging to continue to advise and assist Afghanistan's security forces, he warned: "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."
"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. "The days of providing a blank cheque are over," he added.
'Not Vietnam' Other priorities Mr Obama outlined included enhancing US domestic security, preventing nuclear materials falling into the hands of terrorists and forging better ties with the Muslim world.
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 uneaseDomestic unease
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 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.
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.
Western occupation has become a role of "nation-building", not combat Mark Bennett BBC News website reader, Kentucky Have your say
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.