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Subscribe to RSSOn the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden, President Obama made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan and said his goal "to defeat al-Qaida and deny it a chance to rebuild is now within our reach." NBC's Atia Abawi reports.
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the war-torn country to discuss an agreement he signed with President Hamid Karzai, which would see 23,000 U.S. troops withdrawn by the end of the summer. The agreement, he said, hails “a new kind of relationship” that would see the United States in a more 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. But the president was clear that the U.S. would stay engaged into the future.
“The agreement we signed today sends a clear message to the Afghan people. As you stand up, you will not stand alone,” Obama said. “It establishes the basis of our cooperation over the next decade, including shared commitments to combat terrorism and strengthen democratic institutions.”
President Obama’s visit to Afghanistan was kept secret until he met with Karzai. During Tuesday's meeting, which took place around midnight, 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.
The agreement opens the possibility for continued training of Afghan forces and targeted operations against al-Qaida, which is present in neighboring Pakistan but has a nominal presence inside Afghanistan.
President Obama goes to Afghanistan to sign post-war agreement
At the podium at Bagram Air Field, Obama noted that 10,000 troops were withdrawn last year and that nearly half the Afghan population lives in areas where Afghan Security Forces are taking the lead.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.”
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.
Still, Obama struck a cautionary note, warning of “more difficult days ahead” and acknowledged that “many Americans are tired of war.” But “we must finish the job we started in Afghanistan and end this war responsibly,” he said.
Transcript of Obama's speech from Bagram Air Base
International troops would continue to train and advise the Afghans, Obama said, and the U.S. would not build permanent bases in Afghanistan or patrol the country's cities and mountains.
The president also said the U.S. would not build permanent bases in Afghanistan or patrol the country’s cities and mountains.
The Afghan Security Forces would grow its force to 352,000 this year, Obama said, and sustain that level for three years.
“That will be the job of the Afghan people,” he said.
Obama planned to be on the ground for about seven hours in Afghanistan, where the United States has been engaged in war for more than a decade following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. More than 1,800 U.S. forces have been killed and 15,700 wounded in that time.
The trip also carries major symbolic significance for a president seeking a second term and allows him to showcase the killing a year ago of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Media traveling with Obama on the 13-hour flight had to agree to keep it secret until Obama had safely finished a helicopter flight to the nation's capital, Kabul still launch lethal attacks.
Obama also addressed Pakistan, where bin Laden spent nine years hiding in a safe house in Abbottabad.
“I have made it clear to Afghanistan's neighbor - Pakistan - that it can and should be an equal partner in this process in a way that respects Pakistan's sovereignty, interests, and democratic institutions,” Obama said. “In pursuit of a durable peace, America has no designs beyond an end to al-Qaida safe-havens, and respect for Afghan sovereignty.”
More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Blind dissident's case a 'hot potato' for US-China relations
- Want a bin Laden brick? Pieces of Abbottabad compound sell for a nickel
- U.S. official acknowledges drone strikes, says civilian deaths 'exceedingly rare'
- Koalas get some protection in parts of Australia
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
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I remember what our debt was when Clinton came into office in bad times and erased that debt. I think obama will do the same, when we change the republicans over to democrats and have a real house.
Hey genius you had the house, senate and the white house for Obama's first two years, and what did you get ?? an unconstitutional healthcare bill.
Four more of Obama just means another 6 Trillion more in debt, and nothing to show for it!
You must be practicing for stand up comedy ....
Obama hasn't even slowed is record high debt and deficit down at all ....
To Dev"""
Well we see the mess created when repubs controlled the house ..senate ..and White House from 2003 to 2007...you want them back
Great logic here.... Do you remember that his first 2 and a half years he had an ALL DEMOCRAT congress? Why do you think the debt is so high? You talk like a true Obama supporter.... don't know your a... from a hole in the ground.
To..fed"""
Sorry but the down turn started to be more noticeable by 2007 ...then all hell broke loose ...there is a historical record to look back on ...call me what you want ..don't change the facts
Anunakaaajaja...whatever...Dude your are a moron....What happened in 2006? The democraps took the congress. And the economy began to sink!
To..Dev""'
Like I said to fedup..call me what you want ... but there is the historical record to look back on ...
so king hussein obama just cannot stop spending tax payers money. another round the world trip at what cost to us. all he did was romise to fund afghanistan for another ten years. how much is this going to cost us? all an election ploy to try to make it look like he actually accomplished something. even if it cost tax payers billions more dollars in foreign aid. well i guess he has to take care of his muslim brothers.
Just another tax payer funded campaign stop for Obama. What a joke!
On our dime again ....
It saves him from dipping into his campaign funds ....
Yep, we'll have troops in Afghanistan until 2024 and get to hear each month how many of them are shot in the back of the head while they are trying to help the Afghans. At least the Afghan government will get a few billion dollars of our tax money each year and China gets their oil reserves.
Pardon my ignorance if this has already been brought up in a previous post because I didn't read them all (I can only stomach so much rhetoric), but I have to hand it to Obama and his staff - they are brilliant! Not that I'm an Obama supporter by any stretch, but I would have to consider killing Bin Laden and pulling the troops out of Afghanistan two very big feathers in his cap preceeding and during an election year. Who will be the lesser of two evils this year?
Can I just say..pssssssssssssst haaaaaaaaaaaa. If you are truly as naive as your post suggest, which I doubt, look up Senator Obama's record on the war on terror, and contrast it to what this fool is taking credit for!
"Mission Accomplished" back when?????
Did I miss something ???????
All I know is that OBL will be dead for one year. Mission accomplished part II.
Awsome! *fingers crossed*
Notice MSNBC's wording about he "hails". Are we referring to King Obama?Hope you investigate the tax rate for your owners - GE. Loved to see their tax rate. Probably write off the millions they give to the Obama campaign....
You know the guy who comes into a game and makes the last shot but hasn't made one the entire game, while another player did all the work and scored all the points but the media runs the last guys one shot on the News. Obama is the guy who made the last shot after failing the whole game.
Bush: Osama Bin Laden? I don't know where he is, and I don't worry about him.
Tell that to the 911 survivor's and families.
Better yet. Tell ALL the famililies of soldier's who died, how BUSH engineered the whole thing.
At least the designer and engineer of the Titanic died with his "accomplishment's".
You might want to ask Billy Bob about that one, since the attacks were planed for years while he was getting a BJ from Monica.
To..Dev"""
Funny how most of the 9/11 hijackers were let into the country on saudi visas...after bush was selected for office...
Hijackers Entered U.S. Legally
Thursday, November 22, 2001
WASHINGTON — All 19 Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States with valid visas but three had lost their legal status by the time of the attacks, the Justice Department said Thursday.
The majority of the attackers, 15, were from Saudi Arabia while two came from the United Arab Emirates, one was an Egyptian and another was Lebanese.
Only two of the hijackers entered the United States last year, in January and December. The majority, 14, were admitted in May and June this year.
Their visas were granted for either pleasure trips, business or education.
Satam M.A. Al Suqami came in May this year as a temporary visitor for business but his visa had expired by Sept. 11.
Nawaf M.S. Alhazmi was the first of the 19 admitted, entering on a visitor's visa in January 2000. His visa also had expired.
Hani S.H. Hanjour arrived in December 2000 on a visa for academic studies, but became illegal when he failed to attend school.
(Story continues below)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,39298,00.html
Well, I did ask you to pardon my ignorance...meaning that I am that naive. Possibly too naive to know what psssssssst haaaaaaaaaaaaa. is supposed to mean, as well. But isn't the guy who makes the last shot that wins the game the one that will be remembered, whether he scored any points or not? (yes, a painful truth we will likely live with for another 4 years) At any rate, my vote was for Ron Paul.
How many more of our young soldiers must be sacrificed for the sake of this god forsaken war. The President has signaled his actual willingness to send more of our soldiers home in flag draped caskets. Do the President a favor and vote to remove him from office in November. He has by his actions shown that he is clearly unqualified for the job he holds. His election was a huge mistake that has cost this nation dearly.
These forums serve as a great way to observe the logic(?) that goes into the republican way of thinking. Those with any common sense can see how snarkiness abounds in the face of weak arguments. While your numbers are impressive, they will not win in November. There is a thinking public who can see right thru you. Democrats will continue to clarify the issues and unravel the lies. Each day we move forward as a nation to this better day for all Americans.
Weak arguments? You mean the liberal one that says vote for Obama he said Yes to killing OBL? Yes that one and only platform? I dont' know what else this man can run on. So he is taking the OBL thing as far as he can run with it!
Is Obama's record high almost $16 trillion dollar massive , unstoppable , rocketing upward , economy crushing , credit downgrading Greece like debt and deficit a lie .... ??
My apologies. I should have said lies and misrepresentaions. I' will leave it to others to state some of the obvious ones.
You GOP folks forget one thing. Obama is running against Mitt Romney. You all can froth at the mouth all you want, but fact alone will mean 4 more years for the President. Romney is a foreign policy non-entity and is leaving out important facts about his SUPER JOB CREATOR history (the bankruptcies, redundancies, etc). Once the holes in his economic credentials are exposed (as his ZERO credibility on foreign policy is being so now), it will be over. Beyond the Bain years, he has nothing. Bad record as Governor of MA (47th out of 50 in job creation & scampering off like a rat to avoid losing reelection) and no credibility on foreign policy. And he won't be able to rely on his oily, car salesman personality, either.
Romney is no Reagan. Campaigning with Rudy Giuliani. What a joke.
Don't forget about Ron Paul :)
You dumb sick ignorant halfbreed bastard. Go away.
Obama deep down hates Americans and is working hard to rip away every thread of our Freedom by getting rid of our freedoms one at a time. Are the FEMA Camps his way of establishing "A New Kind of Relationship" with the American Citizens? Ron Paul 2012!
Urban legend, and I worked for DHS at an officer level. Get a grip !
Oh yeah: Ron Paul in 1912. @!$%#!!!! 100 years off. Might have been good back in WW I.
.What a great speaker; This is a reelection ..Wow! The Republicanpukes will be talking tomorrow...I love it..Eat your F-in heart out you right wing Bitches......
Obama 2012 / Biden 2016
Yes Obummer can read a teleprompter like no ones business!
Save what's left of America ....
Obama out in 2012 ....
geesh : I heard this same story 4years ago...Guess who won???
obama 2012/biden 2016....
Maze what is your address I want to make sure you have plenty of tissues come November! You will need them!
I'll take the tissues to wipe the tears of Joy when Obama win...But I do have some crying towels for you:
Mitt Romney = 4 more years for Obama.
The funny thing is, Republicans don't even like him.
Dems are in cruise control with Romney right now. They'll turn the heat up in the summer. Romney is no match for Obama in a campaign. Way too many flaws. That's why Repubs were looking for anyone rather than him.
Sorry to break the truth to you...
"New relationship"....WTF? Sounds like every "relationship" this country has had since the end of WW2. Send American tax dollars overseas to a bunch of people that hate us. I would prefer the money be spent on America's education and infrastructure, or at least on carpet bombing our enemies. Either is preferable to appeasement
Barry Soetoro Hussein, is the dumbest president WE have ever had or will have, I PRAY. What a stupid move in Afghanistan. WE should destroy that country along with a few more over there and instead Barry is sucking there butts. What a PUNK he is. Oh well, maybe with any luck at all someone will take him out while he is there. Or, better yet, maybe one of the GE engines on Air Force One will fail. How GREAT that would be. Come on, you know there are millions of others who feel like I do. He is CRAP.
Concerned AMERCIAN, Larry Velasco.
You RACIST PIGS..may you die a thousand deaths
Because maze1992.. THAT is possible.. Go raise your right hand and serve the Country that has given you all that you know.. 1992...
Racist? Take a look at Barry Soetoro Hussein, The little MUSLIM, PUNK and he wife, the backhoe jaw beauty. They are the RACIST, along with Jesse Jackson, Al not so sharp, Sharpton, Van Jones, the NBPP and All the rest of them. You sound like a RAG-HEAD??????????? May you enjoy you brothers pork sauage.
Concerned AMERICAN, Larry Velasco
HV,Ca..: did my time during Nam...what your exuse for a sorry ass American..
Larry Your still a Racist pig...R U a redneck?
Here's another thing that is not published so openly in the news that has an increased number in Obama's term of office in Afghanistan than under Bush. More then twice the number of U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan in 3 1/2 years under Obama than died in 8 years under Bush - and Bush was a freaking idiot! Well, I guess it comes down to firing your generals instead of listening to them.
Bush was a frigin Clown along with his buddy Cheanny....War criminals:
Yes, but you're missing the point. More than 2 times the amount of U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan in 3 1/2 years under Obama than died in 8 years under Bush! His apologizing policies have placed our troops at risk and caused them their lives. He's never been in the military and he would rather fire his generals then listen to them on policy. Political Correctness has no place in war.
What are all you liberals doing on the vine? Shouldn't you be out breaking windows and defecating on police cars?
Even the Russians were smart enough to get out after ten years and not accomplishing nothing. Come on Obama show everybody that a black President is stupid.
You racist - Pretty brave talk hiding behind your computer. You are everything that is wrong with the United States. You are a sad joke of a human being.
obowmao will withdraw forces next year and relinquish control to the afghan forces..
no backup plan if the forces left behind cannot get the afghan forces up to speed..
and it is doubtful that they will..
but wait..
in retreat, the boy wonder is "negotiating with the taliban"!!!!!!
stay tuned folks..
president romney will have to clean up this mess..
he can always blame odumbo..
I cant believe Obama was in Afghanistan! It was a great day to be on the golf course!
You can almost bet it was just a stop over on the way to some great vacation spot.
Dev: Why? he's not a Pu*sy like george
I am sure that BONER put in 19 holes, 18 + the one after, and not the bar. That would be 20.
Boner: Whew, what a tough day! It was tough trying to figure out what pocket was my $$$ money, and the $$$ money that I was handing out.
Being a high ranking Washington official sucks sometimes. I almost cried when I was doing this.
Hey Mazz1992, You must be a FOOL just like the half-breed MUSLIM PUNK. How stupid are you? If Barry does get back in, I would support Ted Nugent's thoughts. Not that I would ever do anything ILLEGAL. You see, I am smarter than the government and know the meaning of the word ILLEGAL. Bet you butt that someone will.WE are fed up with the Magic NEGRO The guy is the biggest ASS in the WORLD. Concerned AMERICAN, Larry Velasco
Yup you answer my ? you are a frigin REDNECK....Go make some more moon shine....
You can tell all the RepublicanPUKES and Tea wackers on here tonight....The good one are out surpporting Workers day....hehehehehehehe
Oh definately, what a great way to prove a point. Call in sick from your job (if you have one), break windows and barracade traffic. How mature.
great day it takes brave people to fight a crooked system..Of course you have no Balls and lack the sense. You been had by Big Corps and the GOP:
I think it is wonderful for all the soldiers and their family's that are coming home. I thank them for their service! However, I want to know why there is no talk about all the soldiers that are still there, and better yet what about the ones that are still being Deployed. My son has to report this weekend, May 5th, 2012. He is being Deployed to Afghanistan for a minimum of a year. Why are we not hearing anything about that? Please pray that they all get home safe!
marshal-2837579...."I tell you he is a military man through and through. A true commander in chief."
That totally explains why the military didn't get a pay raise in 2011 for the first time in over 20+ years. Not only that, but he's the architect of cutting defense spending and plans on discharging nearly 15% of the active component DOD. Good move Disaster-in-Chief, lets discharge a bunch of Soldiers in this great economy. Oh, but then again you "stimulated" it back in April 2009 and they should have no problem finding jobs.
witch Doc get your facts streight....nobody get a raise in 2010 or 2011.....
Maze: Really - Congress did, both years.