The straightforward, no-nonsense facts about Afghanistan

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Wed Dec-02-09 09:22 PM
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The straightforward, no-nonsense facts about Afghanistan

Summary of the Exit Plan (from the http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/way-forward-afghanistan">White House Fact Sheet):

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The President has decided to deploy an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. These troops will deploy on an accelerated timeline to reinforce the 68,000 Americans and 39,000 non-U.S. ISAF troops already there, so that we can target the insurgency, break its momentum, and better secure population centers.
These forces will increase our capacity to train effective Afghan Security Forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans get into the fight. And by pursuing these partnerships, we can transition to Afghan responsibility, and begin to reduce our combat troops in the summer of 2011.
We will maintain this increased force level for the next 18 months.
(B)eginning in July 2011, we will transfer lead security responsibility to Afghans and start to transition our combat forces out of Afghanistan
We will work with our partners, the United Nations, and the Afghan people to strengthen our civilian effort, so that Afghanistan�s government can step in as we establish better security.
(W)e will also focus our assistance in areas � such as agriculture � that can make an immediate impact in the lives of the Afghan people
A continuing significant increase in civilian experts will accompany a sizable infusion of additional civilian assistance. They will partner with Afghans over the long term to enhance the capacity of national and sub-national government institutions and to help rehabilitate Afghanistan�s key economic sectors so that Afghans can defeat the insurgents who promise only more violence.
Our top reconstruction priority is implementing a civilian-military agriculture redevelopment strategy to restore Afghanistan�s once vibrant agriculture sector
An emphasis of our governance efforts will be on developing more responsive, visible, and accountable institutions at the provincial, district, and local level, where everyday Afghans encounter their government.

It goes through exactly what the plan is and what is being done without all the hyperbole and BS being flung around in some parts. Kinda puts a dent in the "Obama supports endless war" meme. Fact is, Obama's finally ending both wars. He's put forward a concrete plan, with real objectives, and set a very clear deadline for the withdrawal of troops. That is something Bush never did in 8 years. Bush was the one who always opposed a timeline, was always against setting dates and against having a workable plan.

And http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-address-nation-way-forward-afghanistan-and-pakistan">according to the speech last night the objectives are:

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1. Deny al Qaeda a safe haven.
2. Reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government.
3. Strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future.

These are the goals. There is no illusion of "ending terrorism" everywhere. In fact, #3 is the key to the first two. Once the Afghan security forces take over, they will be able to deal with #1 and #2 themselves once the combat forces start leaving in 2011.