He said the "situation is increasingly perilous" in the region, and 2008 was the deadliest year for U.S. forces in the fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan. And he announced plans for 4,000 more troops in Afghanistan, new legislation that would help the economies in Pakistan and Afghanistan, more training to bolster Afghan security forces and an increase in civilian expertise to help develop Afghanistan's economic, social and governmental institutions.
Flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Executive Office Building, Obama called the problem in the volatile region an "international security challenge of the highest order." He stressed soberly that "the safety of people around the world is at stake."
"The United States of America did not choose to fight a war in Afghanistan. Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed on September 11, 2001, for doing nothing more than going about their daily lives," said Obama, who has vowed to make Afghanistan the central front in the war on terror.
Flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Executive Office Building, Obama called the problem in the volatile region an "international security challenge of the highest order." He stressed soberly that "the safety of people around the world is at stake."
"The United States of America did not choose to fight a war in Afghanistan. Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed on September 11, 2001, for doing nothing more than going about their daily lives," said Obama, who has vowed to make Afghanistan the central front in the war on terror. President Obama on Friday called the situation in Afghanistan "increasingly perilous."
"So let me be clear: Al Qaeda and its allies -- the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks -- are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe haven in Pakistan. And if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban -- or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged -- that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can." Watch Obama tell terrorists U.S. will defeat them »
Obama said it is key that Americans understand Pakistan "needs our help" in the fight against al Qaeda.
"Al Qaeda and other violent extremists have killed several thousand Pakistanis since 9/11. They have killed many Pakistani soldiers and police. They assassinated Benazir Bhutto. They have blown up buildings, derailed foreign investment, and threatened the stability of the state. Make no mistake: al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within."
"So let me be clear: Al Qaeda and its allies -- the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks -- are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe haven in Pakistan. And if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban -- or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged -- that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can." Watch Obama tell terrorists U.S. will defeat them »
Obama said it is key that Americans understand Pakistan "needs our help" in the fight against al Qaeda.
"Al Qaeda and other violent extremists have killed several thousand Pakistanis since 9/11. They have killed many Pakistani soldiers and police. They assassinated Benazir Bhutto. They have blown up buildings, derailed foreign investment, and threatened the stability of the state. Make no mistake: al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within."
He called on Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, and Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, authorizing "$1.5 billion in direct support to the Pakistani people every year over the next five years -- resources that will build schools, roads, and hospitals, and strengthen Pakistan's democracy."
He is also urging Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, and Reps. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, and Pete Hoekstra, R-Michigan, "that creates opportunity zones in the border region to develop the economy and bring hope to places plagued by violence. And we will ask our friends and allies to do their part -- including at the donors conference in Tokyo next month."
"After years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders. And we will insist that action be taken -- one way or another -- when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets. "
Obama said the United States must work with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and others to help Pakistan get through the economic crisis.
"To lessen tensions between two nuclear-armed nations that too often teeter on the edge of escalation and confrontation, we must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan."
As for Afghanistan itself, Obama said the country "has been denied the resources that it demands because of the war in Iraq," and now, a commitment must be made.
Obama said he is sending another 4,000 troops to Afghanistan along with hundreds of civilian specialists. The troops -- which are in addition to the 17,000 the president announced earlier would be sent to Afghanistan -- will be charged with training and building the Afghan army and police force.
Obama said the soldiers and Marines "will take the fight to the Taliban in the south and east" and will work with Afghan troops to fight insurgents along the border. He said such an effort will bolster "security in advance of the important presidential election in August."
"We will shift the emphasis of our mission to training and increasing the size of Afghan security forces, so that they can eventually take the lead in securing their country," he said.
Obama said the coalition will accelerate efforts to "build an Afghan army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000 so that we can meet these goals by 2011 -- and increases in Afghan forces may very well be needed as our plans to turn over security responsibility to the Afghans go forward."
Obama also stressed that there needs to be a dramatic increase in America's civilian efforts.
He said Afghanistan's government has been "undermined by corruption and has difficulty delivering basic services to its people," and its economy is undercut by a booming narcotics trade that encourages criminality and funds the insurgency." Watch Obama's remarks on the situation in Afghanistan »
"To advance security, opportunity and justice -- not just in Kabul, but from the bottom up, in the provinces -- we need agricultural specialists and educators; engineers and lawyers. That is how we can help the Afghan government serve its people, and develop an economy that isn't dominated by illicit drugs. That is why I am ordering a substantial increase in our civilians on the ground. And that is why we must seek civilian support from our partners and allies, from the United Nations and international aid organizations -- an effort that Secretary Clinton will carry forward next week in The Hague."
Obama said the United States will set clear benchmarks for international assistance and won't ignore attention to corruption.
"As we provide these resources, the days of unaccountable spending, no-bid contracts and wasteful reconstruction must end. So my budget will increase funding for a strong inspector general at both the State Department and USAID, and include robust funding for the special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction. "
He is also urging Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, and Reps. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, and Pete Hoekstra, R-Michigan, "that creates opportunity zones in the border region to develop the economy and bring hope to places plagued by violence. And we will ask our friends and allies to do their part -- including at the donors conference in Tokyo next month."
"After years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders. And we will insist that action be taken -- one way or another -- when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets. "
Obama said the United States must work with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and others to help Pakistan get through the economic crisis.
"To lessen tensions between two nuclear-armed nations that too often teeter on the edge of escalation and confrontation, we must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan."
As for Afghanistan itself, Obama said the country "has been denied the resources that it demands because of the war in Iraq," and now, a commitment must be made.
Obama said he is sending another 4,000 troops to Afghanistan along with hundreds of civilian specialists. The troops -- which are in addition to the 17,000 the president announced earlier would be sent to Afghanistan -- will be charged with training and building the Afghan army and police force.
Obama said the soldiers and Marines "will take the fight to the Taliban in the south and east" and will work with Afghan troops to fight insurgents along the border. He said such an effort will bolster "security in advance of the important presidential election in August."
"We will shift the emphasis of our mission to training and increasing the size of Afghan security forces, so that they can eventually take the lead in securing their country," he said.
Obama said the coalition will accelerate efforts to "build an Afghan army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000 so that we can meet these goals by 2011 -- and increases in Afghan forces may very well be needed as our plans to turn over security responsibility to the Afghans go forward."
Obama also stressed that there needs to be a dramatic increase in America's civilian efforts.
He said Afghanistan's government has been "undermined by corruption and has difficulty delivering basic services to its people," and its economy is undercut by a booming narcotics trade that encourages criminality and funds the insurgency." Watch Obama's remarks on the situation in Afghanistan »
"To advance security, opportunity and justice -- not just in Kabul, but from the bottom up, in the provinces -- we need agricultural specialists and educators; engineers and lawyers. That is how we can help the Afghan government serve its people, and develop an economy that isn't dominated by illicit drugs. That is why I am ordering a substantial increase in our civilians on the ground. And that is why we must seek civilian support from our partners and allies, from the United Nations and international aid organizations -- an effort that Secretary Clinton will carry forward next week in The Hague."
Obama said the United States will set clear benchmarks for international assistance and won't ignore attention to corruption.
"As we provide these resources, the days of unaccountable spending, no-bid contracts and wasteful reconstruction must end. So my budget will increase funding for a strong inspector general at both the State Department and USAID, and include robust funding for the special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction. "
The United States is seeking to work with the United Nations to develop "greater progress for its mandate to coordinate international action and assistance, and to strengthen Afghan institutions."
He said the U.S. will develop a new Contact Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan that will include "not only NATO allies and other partners, but also the Central Asian states, the Gulf nations and Iran; Russia, India and China." (CNN)
He said the U.S. will develop a new Contact Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan that will include "not only NATO allies and other partners, but also the Central Asian states, the Gulf nations and Iran; Russia, India and China." (CNN)
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