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Washington
13 November 2009
President Barack Obama has told U.S. troops he will not send them into
conflict without adequate support. The president spoke to a military
audience in the state of Alaska Thursday while heading to Asia.
He
made a commitment to the nation's service members, in a refueling stop
at Elmendorf Air Force Base on his way to visiting four nations in
Asia. "I want you guys to understand I will never hesitate to use force
to protect the American people or our vital interests. I also make you
this promise: I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to
America's vital interests," he said.
The president and his top
advisers have been discussing how to proceed with the war in
Afghanistan. Mr. Obama told the troops and their families any plan he
chooses will include sufficient support for them. "We will give you the
strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We will give you the
equipment and support that you need to get the job done, and that
includes public support back home. That is a promise that I make to
you," he said.
The president did not specifically mention
Afghanistan in his talk to the troops, but he is expected to send
thousands more service members to fight there. After meeting with his
advisers on Wednesday, Mr. Obama asked for revised options.
White
House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the president will not announce
his Afghanistan strategy before returning from Asia next week. Gibbs
also says Mr. Obama wants benchmarks for evaluating U.S. progress in
Afghanistan, and will not commit to an open-ended conflict.
Public
support for increasing troop levels in Afghanistan has been eroding.
An Associated Press poll this week shows that 54 percent of Americans
oppose sending more troops, up from 50 percent in October.
The
president's Asia trip will take him to Japan,Singapore, China and South
Korea. The global economy, trade, climate change and North Korea's
nuclear program are expected to be among the topics covered in the
various meetings.
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