Obama On Afghanistan: US Must "Defeat and Dismantle" The Taliban
AP: President Barack Obama has declared that the United States must "disrupt, defeat and dismantle" the al-Qaida terrorist organization and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Announcing plans for an increased American troop presence in Afghanistan, Obama also said that it's important for the American people to understand that Pakistan "needs our help" in going after terrorists.
He called the situation in Afghanistan "increasingly perilous." The administration has already approved sending 17,000 additional combat troops to Afghanistan and was ready to announce another 4,000 to go there.
Obama said that if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban or allows al Qaida to go unchallenged, "that country will be a base for terrorists who want to kill us."
AP: Obama: Taliban and al-Qaida must be stopped
President Obama on a new plan for Afghanistan:
Obama says the situation is "dire" in Afghanistan: