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| Obama orders Afghan troop surge | Obama orders Afghan troop surge |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | 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. | 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. |
| ANALYSIS Adam Brookes, BBC News, Washington | |
| There seems to be an acknowledgement that a level of insurgent activity will continue - even in the best case scenario. Wiping out the Taliban is not a war aim. And given the Taliban's ability to make use of parts of Pakistan as a safe haven, nor could it be. | |
| The July 2011 date requires that, by then, elements of the Afghan armed forces are in sufficiently good shape to begin taking on sole responsibility for security. The first areas of the country handed over would be those that are quietest and least vulnerable to Taliban influence. | |
| This is a very rapid timetable - accelerated, the president called it - and there will be many in the US military who wonder if it is optimistic, given the difficulties of finding competent leaders for the Afghan army and police. Shoring up support | |
| 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. |
| "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). | The bill for the military surge is being estimated at some $30bn (£18bn). |
| 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 | |
| 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. |