Obama to Give Afghan Speech at West Point

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. (More President Obama stories.)