Campaign Statements — Afghanistan

Monday April 30, 2012

“Some people will ask why we need a firm timeline. The answer is clear.”

“As we move forward, some people will ask why we need a firm timeline. The answer is clear: our goal is not to build a country in America’s image, or to eradicate every vestige of the Taliban. These objectives would require many more years, many more dollars, and most importantly, many more American lives. Our goal is to destroy Al Qaeda, and we are on a path to do exactly that. Afghans want to assert their sovereignty and build a lasting peace. That requires a clear timeline to wind down the war.

Others will ask: why don’t we leave immediately. That answer is also clear. We must give Afghanistan the opportunity to stabilize, otherwise our gains could be lost and Al Qaeda could establish itself once more. As commander in chief, I refuse to let that happen.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama | War on Terror |

Monday April 30, 2012

“My administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban.”

“In coordination with the Afghan government, my administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban. We’ve made it clear that they can be a part of this future if they break with Al Qaeda, renounce violence, and abide by Afghan laws. Many members of the Taliban, from foot soldiers to leaders, have indicated an interest in reconciliation. The path to peace is now set before them. Those who refuse to walk it will face strong Afghan security forces backed by the United States and our allies.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama | War on Terror |

Monday April 30, 2012

“We will not build permanent bases in this country.”

“We will not build permanent bases in this country. Nor will we be patrolling in cities and mountains. That will be the job of the Afghan people.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama |

Monday April 30, 2012

“The goal that I set to defeat Al Qaeda…is now within our reach.”

“Over the last three years, the tide has turned. We broke the Taliban’s momentum. We built strong Afghan security forces. We devastated Al Qaeda’s leadership, taking out over 20 of their top 30 leaders. And one year ago, from a base here in Afghanistan, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The goal that I set to defeat Al Qaeda and deny it a chance to rebuild is now within our reach.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama | War on Terror |

Monday April 30, 2012

“For a number of reasons, this war has taken longer than most anticipated.”

“Let us remember why we came here. It was here, in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden established a safe harbor for his terrorist organization. It was here in Afghanistan where Al Qaeda brought new recruits, trained them, plotted acts of terror. It was here, from within these borders, that Al Qaeda launched the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children. So ten years ago, the United States and our allies went to war to make sure that Al Qaeda would never again use this country to launch attacks against us. Despite initial success, for a number of reasons, this war has taken longer than most anticipated.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama | War on Terror |

Monday April 30, 2012

“We [will] build an equal partnership between two sovereign states.”

“Today I signed a historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries - a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nations and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states, a future in which war ends and a new chapter begins.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama |

Saturday April 28, 2012

“We’ve done what we’ve said we’d do.”

“Hillary and I, we’ve spent the last 3½ years cleaning up after other folks’ messes. And by the way, we’re starting to get them pretty cleaned up. The war in Iraq is over. We’re transitioning in Afghanistan. We’ve got the strongest allies we’ve ever seen. And Al Qaida is on the ropes. So we’ve done what we said we’d do.

But when you’ve got the leading contender, the presumptive nominee, on the other side suddenly saying our number-one enemy isn’t Al Qaida, it’s Russia. I don’t make that up. I’m suddenly thinking, what—maybe I didn’t check the calendar this morning. I didn’t know we were back in 1975.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama | Iraq | War on Terror |

Friday March 30, 2012

“For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.”

“Change is the fact that for the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. We refocused our efforts on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. And thanks to the brave men and women in uniform, al Qaeda is weaker than it has ever been. Osama bin Laden is no more. We’ve begun to transition in Afghanistan to put them in the lead, and start bringing our troops home from Afghanistan. That’s what change is.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Barack Obama | Iraq |

Thursday February 23, 2012

“This president has gone so far at appeasing radical Islamists.”

“There seems to be nothing that radical Islamists can do to get Barack Obama’s attention in a negative way and he is consistently apologizing to people who do not deserve the apology of the president of the United States period. And, candidly, if Hamid Karzai, the president of Afghanistan, doesn’t feel like apologizing then we should say good bye and good luck, we don’t need to be here risking our lives and wasting our money on somebody who doesn’t care…This president has gone so far at appeasing radical Islamists that he is failing in his duty as commander in chief.”

CATEGORIES: Afghanistan | Islamophobia | Newt Gingrich |