Obama renews strategy for Afghanistan

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WEST POINT, Dec. 2 (Xinhua): After months of review, the Obama administration Tuesday renewed its strategy for Afghanistan by sending 30,000 additional troops to the country in a decisive war against the al-Qaida network and extremists.
"As Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home," said President Barack Obama, who told his people "Afghanistan is not lost."
Speaking at the US Military Academy in West Point Tuesday night, President Obama reiterated the overarching goal of the new strategy remains the same as the March-Version strategy: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to prevent its capacity to threaten the United States and its allies in the future.
Under the strategy, the United States must deny al-Qaida a safe-haven. "We must reverse the Taliban's momentum and deny it the ability to overthrow the government. We must strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's Security Forces and government, so that they can take lead responsibility for Afghanistan's future," said Obama.
The president specified three ways to meet these objectives: pursuing a military strategy that will break the Taliban's momentum and increase Afghanistan's capacity over the next 18 months; pursuing a more effective civilian strategy that the Afghan government can take advantage of improved security; and strengthening effective partnership with Pakistan.
Sending more troops is one of key elements for the military strategy. Obama said he has made the decision because he is convinced that US security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al-Qaida."