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March 30, 2009

President Obama Outlines Plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan
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The attack came two days after President Obama defended his decision to
send 21,000 more US troops to Afghanistan and to increase aid to
Pakistan. Obama said his one goal is to wipe out al-Qaeda militants whom
he said were plotting new attacks on the United States.

President Obama: “The world cannot afford the price that will come due
if Afghanistan slides back into chaos or al-Qaeda operates unchecked. We
have a shared responsibility to act, not because we seek to project
power for its own sake, but because our own peace and security depends
upon it. And what’s at stake at this time is not just our own security;
it’s the very idea that free nations can come together on behalf of our
common security.”

The New York Times reports the Obama administration was divided over
what to do in Afghanistan. The commanders in the field wanted a larger
surge of troops but Vice President Joseph Biden reportedly warned
against getting into a political and military quagmire.



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