Obama echoes Iraq strategy in Afghanistan announcement

President Obama will increase the U.S. presence in Afghanistan to build that country’s security forces, as well as work with some elements of the Taliban as part of its long term strategy to win the ongoing conflict there.

“The United States of America did not choose to fight a war in Afghanistan. Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed on September 11, 2001, for doing nothing more than going about their daily lives,” Obama said in prepared remarks laying out his adminstration’s strategy in Afghanistan. “But we will seek lasting partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan that serve the promise of a new day for their people.”

In a move mirroring the successful strategies in Iraq, Obama said that U.S. forces would pick off some more moderate Taliban members to isolate the group’s ideological core.

“As their ranks dwindle, an enemy that has nothing to offer the Afghan people but terror and repression must be further isolated,” Obama explained. “And we will continue to support the basic human rights of all Afghans.”

Obama also said that there would be additional deplayment for troops in Afghanistan.

“For the first time, this will fully resource our effort to train and support the Afghan Army and Police,” Obama said. “We will accelerate our efforts to build an Afghan Army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000 so that we can meet these goals by 2011