President Barack Obama has announced his plan to send about 4,000 more US troops to Afghanistan and increase diplomacy with Pakistan. He said his strategy has a clear and focused goal.
"To disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. That is the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: We will defeat you," said the president.
Mr. Obama said, for Americans, the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan is "the most dangerous place in the world," where those who planned the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States are plotting further attacks.
The estimated 4,000 new troops would join 17,000 additional combat and support troops the president wants in Afghanistan in the coming months. By October, the overall force level should reach 59,000.
The new plan shifts the emphasis of the U.S. mission to training and increasing the size of the Afghan security forces, so they can eventually take responsibility for their country's security.
More:
Obama Announces New Afghanistan, Pakistan Strategies - Transcript
President Unveils Afghan-Pakistan Strategy Review - AFPS
US Defines New Afghan Strategy - Wall Street Journal
Obama Announces Plans for More Funding for Afghan War - Washington Post
Obama Sounds Cautious Note as He Sets Out Afghan Plan - New York Times
Obama: Taliban and al Qaeda Must Be Stopped - Washington Times
Obama Pledges More Troops for Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times
Afghan Plan Adds 4,000 US Troops - Boston Globe
Obama's Strategy for Afghanistan - Christian Science Monitor
Obama Zeros in on Afghanistan - Washington Times
Obama Pumps $5bn Into Pakistan - The Times
Obama Vows to 'Dismantle and Defeat' al-Qaeda - Daily Telegraph
Afghanistan 'On Brink of Disaster' - The Australian
Barack Obama Pushes for Afghanistan Result - The Australian
Obama Takes Aim at Taliban and Al Qaeda - Associated Press
Obama sets Qaeda Defeat as Top Goal in Afghanistan - Reuters
US Rethinks Afghanistan Strategy - BBC News
Barack Obama Offers New Strategy to Tame Pakistan - The Times
White House Debate Led to Plan to Widen Afghan Effort - New York Times
Pakistani, Afghan Leaders Welcome Obama War Strategy - Voice of America
Afghan-Pakistan Strategy Emphasizes Need for Counterinsurgency Fight - AFPS
New Afghan Program Supports Community-based Approach to Security - AFPS
New Afghan Approach More Likely to Succeed, Gates Says - AFPS
Mullen Praises Regional Approach of Afghan-Pakistan Strategy Review - AFPS
Trainers 'Critical' to Obama's New Afghan-Pakistan Plan, Mullen Says - AFPS
New Strategy 'Refocuses' Mission in Afghanistan, Flournoy Says - AFPS
Holbrooke, Petraeus Weigh In on New Afghan-Pakistan Plan - PBS
The Price of Realism - Washington Post editorial
The Remembered War - New York Times editorial
Mr. Obama's Surge - Wall Street Journal editorial
Obama vs. Al Qaeda - Boston Globe editorial
Obama's Afghan Plan - Christian Science Monitor editorial
A New Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan - Commentary opinion
Defusing Afghanistan - Washington Post opinion
The Right Strategy? - Washington Post opinion
Why Pakistan is a Stumbling Block - The Times opinion
'Lower Your Sights' is the Wrong Vision - Los Angeles Times opinion