President Barack Obama launched a new chapter in the Afghanistan war Tuesday, committing an additional 30,000 U.S. troops while setting a goal of starting to bring forces home by July 2011. In a televised 35-minute speech from the U.S. Military Academy to the nation, Obama said "As commander in chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan." These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan," he was quoted as saying by CNN. Obama cited the security threat to America and its allies to explain the need to increase the number of U.S. troops committed to Afghanistan to nearly 100,000. He also said he would ask NATO allies to increase the 40,000 troops they have sent to Afghanistan for the U.S.-led mission. At the same time, Obama included an early date to begin withdrawing forces to signal both the Afghans and fellow Americans that the U.S. commitment would not be endless. "Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground," Obama said. "We will continue to advise and assist Afghanistan"s security forces to ensure that they can succeed over the long haul. "But it will be clear to the Afghan government -- and, more importantly, to the Afghan people -- that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country." The additional 30,000 troops would begin deploying early next year at "the fastest pace possible," said Obama.
