Obama: No Timeline On Afghanistan

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Afghanistan

(CBS)

At his press conference this evening, President Obama said he does not yet have a timetable on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.

"What I know is I'm not going to allow al-Qaeda or bin Laden to plan attacks on the U.S. homeland with impunity," he said.

Mr. Obama did not speak kindly of the Afghan government, saying it "seems very detached from what's going on in the surrounding community."

He said that "we haven't seen is the kind of concerted effort to root out" safe havens where terrorists live in the country.

"This is a situation in which a region served as the base to launch an attack that killed 3,000 Americans," he said.

He added that a meeting he had with families of Sept. 11 victims was "a reminder of the cost of allowing those safe havens to exist."

"We cannot allow al-Qaeda to operate, we cannot have those safe havens in that region," he said.

Mr. Obama was also asked if he would reverse the Bush-era practice of not allowing members of the media to photograph the coffins of U.S. soldiers coming home from war.

The president declined to answer, saying he is in the process of reviewing the policy in conjunction with the Department of Defense.

The president added that his "most sobering moment" as president has been signing letters "to the families of our fallen heroes."

"It reminds you of the responsibilities that you carry in this office," he said.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by tincup356 February 10, 2009 4:42 PM EST: tincup356

Dude, as you are going through the check out at the supermarket, those publications with headlines like "Aliens land on the White House lawn" & Woman gives birth to dolphin" ARE NOT NEWSPAPERS!! Although, I wouldn''''t be surprised if you started posting that Bush created a Alien/Bigfoot hybrid breeding program to create warriors to fight in Iraq. You seem the type.

Posted by Questionnews at 10:24 AM : Feb 10, 2009..............And people like you have been watching too much Holly wood BS....If you think a 750 degree fire can melt steel beams and collapse buildings to fall in a perfect footprint ....you are a sucker for a king size BS story,,,just like the one they sold America,,,,,that has padded the pockets of the elite ,,,with billions.....and where do the people find themselves now?,,,,Broke, jobless , homeless,,,,,,,,All because the same people that lied to you ,,,,sold you out to the greedy LOBBY DOLLAR,,,,,,thank you BOTH democrats and republicans you have just about ruined this country,,,,and as the numbers grow of those ruined so do the chance of a revolution to rid this country of greedy scum like BOTH parties.; Reply to this comment


by tincup356 February 10, 2009 4:19 PM EST: think as you wish but facts are facts and lies are lies....The biggest lie Bush ever told....and the Only one people bought....where would our economy be now..if we had not gone into the two lie wars...PONDER that....and look around and see WHO has profited BILLIONS off of the two wars.....ALL from a lie the people bought.Face it people our government IS evil and WILL kill innocent people ...FOR MONEY.; Reply to this comment


by biger-e February 10, 2009 3:26 PM EST: it is fun to watch the sheep realize that they have been bamboozled.; Reply to this comment


by questionnews February 10, 2009 1:24 PM EST: tincup356

Dude, as you are going through the check out at the supermarket, those publications with headlines like "Aliens land on the White House lawn" & Woman gives birth to dolphin" ARE NOT NEWSPAPERS!! Although, I wouldn''t be surprised if you started posting that Bush created a Alien/Bigfoot hybrid breeding program to create warriors to fight in Iraq. You seem the type.; Reply to this comment


by guyfrompa09 February 10, 2009 12:20 PM EST: As we''re all finding out. To get things done in Washington or to make campaign promises are more easily said than done.; Reply to this comment


by cntrymuzksux February 10, 2009 12:16 PM EST: tincup356 - you''''re an idiot

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Posted by guyfrompa09 at 09:15 AM : Feb 10, 2009

Second the motion.; Reply to this comment


by cntrymuzksux February 10, 2009 12:11 PM EST: In plain English Obama does not know what to do in Afghanistan.He will only react to the events there and play for time.

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Posted by krescera at 08:49 AM : Feb 10, 2009

Are you arguing that our previous administration had a better idea of how to manage foreign policy?; Reply to this comment


by sabre1111 February 10, 2009 11:58 AM EST: Israel is Americas welfare state. A $3 billion welfare check is written by American taxpayers every year to support Israel''''''''s lazy citizens.

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Posted by mt1233

Perspective. We give Egypt 2 billion year. Jordan, Pakistan and Columbia get 500-700 million each. In comparison, Israel does not get an unusually larger amount than our other allies.; Reply to this comment


by krescera February 10, 2009 11:49 AM EST: In plain English Obama does not know what to do in Afghanistan.He will only react to the events there and play for time.; Reply to this comment


by willow313 February 10, 2009 11:14 AM EST: As I watched the masses blindly follow Obama during the presidential campaign, I will also watch the masses fall out of favor one by one as we truck down the road....; Reply to this comment