The administration’s first state visit already feels long. (ap)
Of the war in Afghanistan, President Obama said today that, “It is my intention to finish the job.” And so the president sets yet another marker for himself: Ending the war in Afghanistan. Good thing he’s a student of history.
At a joint avail (or whatever we are calling it — one question each side) with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the president said his announcement is coming “shortly” but declined to be pinned down on much more — although he is going to India next year for a visit.
The estimable Mark Knoller of CBS News was the American side’s questioner for the East Room event.
KNOLLER: Good to see you, sir. Mr. President, I suspect you don’t want my colleagues and I to rely on leaks until next week, so I’d like to ask you about —
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Why — why stop now? (Laughter.)
KNOLLER: Well, perhaps you’d like to help us set a new — set a new stage in our relationship by telling us where you stand on your decision on Afghanistan. You had your — what we were told was your final meeting last evening. Can you tell us how many more troops you’ll be sending to Afghanistan, how you’ll be paying for them, and whether you’ll be announcing a timetable and — or exit strategy for them?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Mark, I will be making an announcement to the American people about how we intend to move forward. I will be doing so shortly. I think that the review that we’ve gone through has been comprehensive and extremely useful and has brought together my key military advisers but also civilian advisers.
I can tell you, as I’ve said before, that it is in our strategic interest, in our national security interest, to make sure that al Qaeda and its extremist allies cannot operate effectively in those areas. We are going to dismantle and degrade their capabilities and ultimately dismantle and destroy their networks. And Afghanistan’s stability is important to that process.
I’ve also indicated that after eight years — some of those years in which we did not have, I think, either the resources or the strategy to get the job done — it is my intention to finish the job. And I feel very confident that when the American people hear a clear rationale for what we’re doing there and how we intend to achieve our goals, that they will be supportive.
Mark asked whether Obama felt Tuesday would be a good day to make the announcement. Obama chuckled and said, “After Thanksgiving.” So you know, maybe Beltway Confidential will still be proven right about the Sunday address from the Oval.
Side note: Katie Couric, also of CBS News is hanging around the White House briefing room toting vintage red Oscar de la Renta. She’s on the list for the state dinner tonight.
