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| Obama orders Afghan troop surge | Obama orders Afghan troop surge |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has ordered 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan but warned America would begin to withdraw its military by 2011. | |
| 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 also urged America's allies in Nato to send more troops. | |
| Defending the war, he insisted there were no parallels with Vietnam and that world security was at stake. | |
| Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly Barack Obama Full text of speech Reaction in quotes US surge 'to aid UK' | |
| 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. |
| Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Afghanistan, welcomed the speech, saying he had been given "a clear military mission" and the necessary resources. | 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. | 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 says. | |
| Taliban threat | Taliban 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 but he urged Americans not to see the conflict as a new Vietnam War. | 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. |
| America was backed by a "broad coalition of 43 nations", he said, and was not facing a "broad-based popular insurgency". | America was backed by a "broad coalition of 43 nations", he said, and was not facing a "broad-based popular insurgency". |
| "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. | "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. |
| The bill for the military surge is being estimated at some $30bn (£18bn). | |
| 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: "What's at stake is the security of our allies, and the common security of the world." |
| The US would take the Iraq experience as its model for withdrawal, he added. | 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, 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| "The days of providing a blank cheque are over," he added. | "The days of providing a blank cheque are over," he added. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Domestic unease | Domestic unease |
| 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 | 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. |