President describes new support role in Afghanistan
Obama hails the future of a 'new kind of relationship' with Afghanistan
On
Tuesday night, President Barack Obama addressed the American people
from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to announce an agreement he signed
with President Hamid Karzai: "The goal that I set -- to defeat al-Qaida,
and deny it a chance to rebuild -- is within reach." Watch the full
speech here.
Wrapping
up a surprise visit to Afghanistan, President Barack Obama made a
televised address from the war-torn country to discuss an agreement he
signed with President Hamid Karzai. The agreement, which would see
23,000 U.S. troops withdrawn by the end of the summer, hails “a new kind
of relationship” that would see the United States in a supportive role.“As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014 the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country," Obama said.
President Obama’s visit to Afghanistan was kept secret until he met with President Hamid Karzai. During a planned meeting on Tuesday, the two leaders signed a post-war agreement that provides a framework to the U.S.’s commitment to Afghanistan after the long and unpopular war comes to an end.
At the podium at Bagram Air Field on the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death, Obama noted that 10,000 troops left last year. Nearly half the Afghan population lives in areas where Afghan Security Forces are taking the lead.
“The Iraq War is over,” the president said. “The number of our troops in harm's way has been cut in half, and more will be coming home soon. We have a clear path to fulfill our mission in Afghanistan, while delivering justice to al-Qaida.”
International troops will continue to train and advise the Afghans, Obama said.
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