'What exactly is our objective over there? Can anyone including Obama answer that question with a clear answer. You'd think 1+ Trillion dollars could at least answer that fucking question.'Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-address-nation-way-forward-afghanistan-and-pakistan <excerpt>.... we will pursue the following objectives within Afghanistan. We must deny al Qaeda a safe haven. We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. And we must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future.
We will meet these objectives in three ways. First, we will pursue a military strategy that will break the Taliban's momentum and increase Afghanistan's capacity over the next 18 months.
The 30,000 additional troops that I'm announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 -- the fastest possible pace --so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers. They'll increase our ability to train competent Afghan security forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans.
Second, we will work with our partners, the United Nations, and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the government can take advantage of improved security.
Third, we will act with the full recognition that our success in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to our partnership with Pakistan.
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These are the three core elements of our strategy: a military effort to create the conditions for a transition; a civilian surge that reinforces positive action; and an effective partnership with Pakistan.
Still not clear?:
Maddow discusses Afghanistan decision with UN Ambassador Susan Rice:
Part 1
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#34248277
Part 2
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#34248484