Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Obama to Give Afghan Speech at West Point

Tuesday troop surge announcement comes as approval falters

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2009 11:11 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – President Obama will announce his decision to send 20,000 to 40,000 more troops to fight in Afghanistan in a speech to West Point cadets next Tuesday at 8pm. His remarks will outline a surge, but administration officials say the president is not making a case for an open-ended war. “We are in year nine of our time in Afghanistan,” says Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. “We’re not going to be there another eight or nine years.”

Obama’s speech on Afghan policy will come as the public is increasingly dissatisfied with his handling of the war, notes USA Today. A recent poll shows 55% of Americans disapprove of his approach to Afghanistan, with just 35% approving—an almost exact reversal of the numbers four months ago. Still, his speech could prove beneficial—nearly half polled approve of a troop surge. Of course, 40% think we should start pulling out.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Suntory Hall in Tokyo on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Suntory Hall in Tokyo on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 21 comments
Robert_Dada
Nov 26, 2009 2:01 AM CST
And your resume reads how, MrsK? Yeah, I thought so. You can go back to bed now. It's time for the adults to talk now. Sweet dreams.
QueenAlli
Nov 25, 2009 8:50 AM CST
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!! Yes, you too dontlikeyou, timinator,and that citrus-citrix? person.
RockyPneumonia
Nov 25, 2009 8:06 AM CST
Are you including Vietnamese casualties? Because if not, your numbers are off. We lost 58,000 killed and 350,000 wounded.

 
troop surge • US foreign policy • approval ratings • Afghanistan war • West Point • opinion polls • President Obama • cadets • US Military Academy

More Newser Stories

Obama to Send 30K Troops; Home By 2011

Obama Sounding a Lot Like Bush

Obama Issues Orders for More Afghan Troops

Obama Approval Rating Dips Below 50%

Poll: Grouchy Public Sticks With Obama
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne