Obama will not rush decision on troops to Afghanistan

• Source: Global Times
• [12:46 November 04 2009]
• Comments

Despite growing pressure to decide whether to commit additional troops to Afghanistan next year, US President Barack Obama vowed Monday that he "will never rush" on such a decision.

"I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," Obama said at Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida.

He said the troops "deserve the strategy, the clear mission, the defined goals as well as the equipment and support" to fulfill their duty in Afghanistan.

In his remarks, the president also offered condolence to the families of the 14 American soldiers killed Monday in helicopter crashes in Afghanistan.

Opinion polls show flagging public support for the war effort as the casualty grows and top US officials are still split on the future direction of the Afghan strategy.

General Stanley McChrystal, Obama's top military commander in Afghanistan, favors an increase of roughly 40,000 soldiers.

Meanwhile, senior White House advisors said the US should focus on faster military training of Afghan forces, assassinations of Al-Qaida leaders and support for neighboring Pakistan government to fight against the Taliban.

Obama met his national security team to discuss US strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan ahead of his visit to Jacksonville.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the decision is expected in the "coming weeks".