Obama sets Al Qaida defeat as top goal

Washington: US President Barack Obama has unveiled a new Afghanistan war strategy with one goal - to wipe out Al Qaida militants there and in neighbouring Pakistan who he said were plotting new attacks on the United States.

Obama said the US military in Afghanistan would shift the emphasis of its mission to training and expanding the Afghan army so that it could take the lead in securing the country and allow US troops to return home.

On Saturday, President Hamid Karzai said the new US strategy for the region is acceptable to Afghanistan.

Obama plans to send 4,000 more US soldiers to train the army, along with hundreds of civilian personnel to improve the Afghan government's delivery of basic services.

Obama said that together with the United Nations, the United States would form a "contact group" bringing together countries with a stake in the security of the region, including long-time US foe Iran, Russia, India and China.

He said his new strategy had one "clear and focused goal" - to disrupt, dismantle and eventually defeat Al Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"For the American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world," Obama said. "But this is not simply an American problem. The safety of the world is at stake."

Obama set no timetable for the strategy but he said the United States would not "blindly stay the course" and would set benchmarks for the Afghan government to crack down on corruption and ensure it used foreign aid to help its people.

He said key to defeating Al Qaida was strengthening the weak civilian government of President Asif Ali Zardari in Pakistan, where he said Al Qaida and its allies were a "cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within".

The United States would give military aid to Pakistan to help it combat Al Qaida and economic assistance in coordination with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

But, he added: "After years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank cheque. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out Al Qaida and other violent extremists within its borders."

Will Obama's plan work? Or will this not change anything? Do you think terrorist groups can ever be eliminated?

I don?t think terrorism will end unless and until the world joins together and decides to seriously take action to wipe out terror. Talks and plans are over now, its time for action.
Clifton Lobo
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: March 28, 2009, 11:31

We think his basic idea of bringing the "contact group" together is a positive plan. But, sadly, a tribal culture exists.
Wendy
Tarragona,Spain
Posted: March 28, 2009, 02:18