Obama: Afghanistan Troop Decision Soon

President, in Japan, Promises that New Plan for War will be Transparent to U.S. Public

(CBS/ AP)  President Barack Obama said Friday that his decision about how many troops to send to Afghanistan will come soon and he is bent on "getting this right."

Mr. Obama's statement comes after a White House official traveling with the president to Asia said late Thursday that his decision on future war strategy for Afghanistan is expected no sooner than the first week in December.

The official told CBS News, "there is a sense of urgency to get it right," without rushing the announcement. The official also says the president will likely wait to brief top Congressional leaders until after the Thanksgiving recess.

In a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Mr. Obama rejected claims that his administration is dithering. The policy must protect America from terrorist networks, Mr. Obama said, while also making clear there is no "open-ended commitment" to Afghanistan.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

Mr. Obama and Hatoyama pledged to renew their nations' alliance to keep pace with a fast-changing world.

Opening a weeklong trip to Asia, Mr. Obama said the United States and Japan must "find ways to renew and refresh the alliance for the 21st century."

Hatoyama noted that Japan will no longer refuel ships that supply Afghanistan, but he promised aid for Afghan civilian needs such as schools, agriculture and police. He also vowed to cooperate with the United States on combating climate change and nuclear proliferation.

Read more coverage of Afghanistan at CBSNews.com:

British PM: 5,000 More Troops for NATO in Afghanistan
White House: No Troop Decision Until December
Gates: Obama Wants to Combine Afghan Plans
Official: Obama Wants New Afghan Options
Source: U.S. Ambassador Objects to Afghan Surge

Mr. Obama arrived in Tokyo on Friday, opening a weeklong trip to east Asia.

The two leaders are hoping to shore up relations with a nation that vows to be more assertive with the United States, even as Mr. Obama also weighs whether to send more troops to the Afghan war.

Mr. Obama's visit comes at a time of uncertainty in U.S.-Japan relations. Hatoyama said he would end Japan's Indian Ocean refueling mission that supports U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan and to review an agreement on relocating American troops in Japan that Washington thought was settled three years ago.

Mr. Obama also said the U.S. and Japan would work quickly to resolve a dispute over American military bases on Okinawa.

Hatoyama recalled that he had campaigned on the issue of moving the U.S. base away from populated areas. He said the issue had to be settled quickly because delay would only cause the matter to fester.

Both men mentioned the stickiest issue in relations - the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa - but offered no details. Hatoyama has suggested moving the base off Okinawa altogether, while the U.S. wants to move it to a more remote location on the island, as part of a 2006 agreement on relocating 47,000 American troops in Japan.

Weighing on Mr. Obama as he begins his trip is the pending decision on Afghan war strategy. On a stop at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska on his way to Asia, Mr. Obama told a military audience he will commit more forces to Afghanistan only if it is vital to U.S. interests and receives public support.

"I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interests," Mr. Obama told the troops.

"And if it is necessary," he said, "the United States of America will have your back. We'll give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We'll give you the equipment and support you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home."

Afghanistan is a complicating factor in the trip to a rapidly changing Asia reordering itself around China's surging economic and diplomatic clout. Mr. Obama's chief goal, the White House has said, is to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the region.

Mr. Obama also will travel to Singapore for meetings with Southeast Asian leaders, and then to China and South Korea. Many governments are keen to see a revitalized U.S. engagement in part to counterbalance China, and even a newly powerful Beijing says it welcomes a continuing U.S. role in the region.

Japan, long billed by Washington as the cornerstone of U.S. Asia policy, is caught up in these shifts. Hatoyama came to power calling for a more equal partnership with Washington and a more positive embrace of China, which will soon supplant Japan as the world's No. 2 economy.

In a pre-trip interview with Japan's NHK network, Mr. Obama sought to minimize any friction and likened the election of Hatoyama and his Democratic Party of Japan after nearly 50 years of rule by another party to a "political earthquake."

"I think that it is perfectly appropriate for the new government to want to re-examine how to move forward in a new environment," Mr. Obama said. "I don't think anybody expects that the U.S.-Japan relationship would be the same now as it was 50 years ago or 30 years ago or 20 years ago."

As part of an effort to shift focus away from difficult security issues, Mr. Obama and Hatoyama are expected to discuss and issue a statement on climate change, nuclear disarmament and other global issues. Attempts to coax nuclear-armed North Korea - which occasionally threatens Japan with fiery rhetoric - to return to disarmament negotiations are likely to feature prominently, as is Iran's nuclear program.

[VeteranJim]

The reader above refers to the web site named The Virtual Wall at http://www.VirtualWall.org

[50BMS13]

Troop decision coming soon? How soon? We are being attacked. Send in reinforcements NOW or BRING THEM HOME! The troops either need help or they shouldn't be there. There is no inbetween. Get off the pot and make a decision for goodness sakes!

[Empire-George]

by BeckieBest November 13, 2009 2:20 PM EST
What do right wing nuts do when they're not praising Bush or lamenting the fact that he wasn't able to run for a third term?
__________________

Hey BeckieBeast.....the only nuts bringing up Bush over and over are you idiotic liberals....you seem obsessed by the man.....he is your whipping post, your only defense against any wrongdoing by this administration and such a cop-out to use Bush in every answer given......beast, Bush is not president....it's been nearly a year now and you are still obsessed.....how about you pick up your prayer rug, dust off your camel and come to the real world of Obama as the current President...not Bush

[Harden_Tar]

Dear Mr. Obama: Take your time sir. No hurry. I am sure you can go campaign endlessly for healthcare, capa and trade, the freaking Olympics, whatever for a while longer while America is being seen as week and ineffective. No wait, that is exactly what you want, so, nevermind.

[BeckieBest]

What do right wing nuts do when they're not praising Bush or lamenting the fact that he wasn't able to run for a third term?


They come here and whine.


lol!

[50BMS13]

BeckieBest
Park your camel and give the poor thing some water. Get that sand out of your lap-top while you're at it. Obama is the biggest threat to national security we have ever seen. You love abortions, gay rights, muslims that hate our country.

Obama needs to send in troop support or bring them all home! Make a decision already! The troops either REALLY NEED HELP over there...OR...THEY SHOULD NOT BE OVER THERE. The answer is one of those two options.....NOT maybe we'll see!

[PaGuy1960]

he did exactly the same thinhg with gitmo and trying to decide if and investigation should be started. He flip flpped everyday until he relaized that soem dems were just as much to blame. It;s all political.if you back him then you should be ashamed of yourself.

[BeckieBest]

Doesn't matter what decision he makes or how soon he makes it.

Right wing nuts will screech and whine no matter what.

[PaGuy1960]

What you don;t undertsand is the longer he waits the more danger the troops are in. Make a friggin decsion either way already.

[azure13]

Oh BS PaGuy1960. That's a load of crap. Tell us, just how does it endanger the troops that are there? Are they not in danger ALL the time already?
I am damn glad that the President is trying to get the whole thing right. Taking all the best ideas from the various plans is brilliant.

However, I don't even support that. They should just get everyone out of there and and that quagmire. It's nothing but a bottomless money pit. What does our country have to gain from staying there? Zip. It's now a war of pride.

[PaGuy1960]

I love how you libs keep bringing up Bush. It's so mazing to see you try to cover Obama's ass with someone that no longer has anything to do with anything. Why don't you just Blame Carter and Clinton while your're at it. I mean after all whats the difference. Obama hasn;t done anything to help the situation in Iraq or Afghanistan. That's because he is cluless. He talked a good game while campaining but now it's time to face reality and he can;t.

[redwilma]

The negative personal comments about Obama, that have nothing to do with any issue, are depressing. We all need to pull together and support the troops and support our country. I'm so sick of POLITICS when we have such real problems. We need Congress to all work together to help instead of fighting with each other and thinking only about their own re-election and power. Bah Humbug to Selfish Reckless Idiotic Congressmen and women.

[azure13]

redwilma, that's why we need longer terms for representatives. They are so worried about re-election all the time that they are afraid to do anything worth a damn. So it's all politics and no real effort to do something for the people. It should be 4 years.

[BeckieBest]

After 8 long disasterous years of "The Decider" digging us into a hole in Iraq and Afghanistan, I'm glad that we have someone in the White House that will take the time to determine whether this is worth the sacrifice of more troops.

Let the right wing nuts whine.

[W_A_H]

Ms. Best, I take it your younger than say 22 years old, no? You much like our leader need to gain some life experience as apposed to regurgitating the manure the far left elements have used to destroy our party which you will see next year. If you are older than 22 then you are either completely blind as to the realities we face, you?re vertically ignorant or you?re an Ivy League Professor. It?s quite obvious that you have no practical historical experience and if left up to folks like you, we'll all be singing Allahu Akbar. No thank you Sweetheart, not me.

[jxknowles]

BeckieBest I agree with your sentiments. You hit the nail right on the head. It's obvious you think things out before you speak and don't jump to a million conclusions like some right-wing nut gadfly (W_A_H), flitting from one pile of poop to another. That's what got us into this mess. Rational, clear and reflective thinking will get us out.

[PaGuy1960]

yes 8 years that have come and gone and before you knwo it Obama will be on year number 2 and he hasn't a clue. You are pathetic.

[W_A_H]

President Obama, save it. Damage done. Seems we moderate Demcorats know it, the Republicans keep saying it but the silent flyover majority will confirm it beginning next year if not sooner.

[stryker54]

AMd I thought all Dems were blind. Glad to see some are coming out of the ether.

[msimamaji]

I am thankful that I supported Obama for president.

Let's look at what history tells us. The bad old USSR thought they could win Afghanistan. They thought they owned the country. They threw all the might of the Red Army into the conflict. Look what happened.

We of course were just as bright as the Soviets. Ronald Reagan & Co spent gobs of money to arm the "freedom-loving", "God-fearing" mujadeen. And look at whom we are fighting - the same people we armed to fight the Soviets, the Taliban, formerly known as the mujadeen.

Obama's decision is based on two concepts. Phasing ourselves out of Afghanistan and turning the responsibility of security over to the Afghans themselves. If the Afghans feel they can be more secure by actually negotiating with certain Taliban chieftains, so be it. The longer we stay in Afghanistan, the more the Afghans will consider us foreign infidel invaders - and that in itself will doom us to failure.
Furthermore, we do not win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people when we bomb villages which we consider Taliban hide-outs and wind up killing innocent civilians instead, including women and children.

Obam inherited a nightmare. He is doing the right thing. He is trying to find an orderly and responsible way to bring our troops home.

If we really want to destroy al Qaeda, let's destroy their funding source - the global oil market. The faster we can free ourselves from fossil fuels - the faster we can destroy the as Qaeda's revenue. Furthermore, green technology is a multi-trillion dollar industry which will produce jobs, jobs, and more jobs. Even China and India recognize that, so does President Obama. Why can't the media, why can't the TeaBaggers and why can't Congress do the same??????

[repforbarack]

YES WE CAN!

[50BMS13]

Can muslims take over our great country the UNITED STATES of AMERICA? Answer is above^^^^^^^

[wyodutch]

Visit "The Virtual Wall" sometime. Pick a name or two at random and consider the sacrifices that an earlier generation made on the alter of a different war that was also.. "Vital to America's interests."
.
...
Today, those VietNam war dead lie in quiet graves, while Bank of America and Intel build factories and offices in Ho Chi Minh City and our Presidents and politicians do photo ops under the watchful gaze of a portrait of Uncle Ho.
.
There is nothing.. nothing... nothing, in Iraq or Afghanistan worth the lifeblood of a single American soldier.
.
Instead of spending $12,000,000,000 a month on these perpetual wars, we ought to be rebuilding America and providing decent-paying jobs for the youngsters who bleed in Afghanistan because they can't find work in their own hometowns.

[wyodutch]

From Intel's corporate web site...
.
"Intel is the first major foreign investor in high technology in Vietnam. The country's Ministry of Investment and Planning has given Intel an investment license to build a $300 million assembly and test facility to produce chips and computer parts. When completed, this factory will be the largest computer equipment and manufacturing plant in Vietnam. Projected to employ approximately 1,200 people, this site will be the seventh assembly site in Intel's global network.
.
Intel also has a sales and marketing office in Ho Chi Minh City, providing world-class sales and support at the original equipment manufacturer, developer and end-user levels. Set up since 1997, this office drives Intel's initiatives, technologies, products and services into the marketplace, creating demand and promoting Intel's role in the Internet.
.
Vietnam is a beautiful country with many fascinating ancient cities. Among them is the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh, which offers many modern conveniences-while still managing to preserve its traditional charms."
.
Now... Go back and visit the Virtual Wall again and tell me how important it is for Obama to send more young men into the killig fields of Afghanistan.

[Charly440]

This whole sickening mess is for Israeli security and convenience as they protract this slaughter of our young people. They control US and
care only for their immutable threesome: "ME" - "MYSELF" - and "I".
American Control and Destiny by Americans not israeli puppets.....

[YourVeryWrong]

So I guess the Hebrews allowed both of you to post, just to amuse themselves? While they run the whole world? How diabolical. Reminds me of when Bruno Sammartino wrestled Ivan Koloff in a Texas-style steel cage match.

[YourVeryWrong]

Just as stock prices can be manipulated by a small circle of fraudulent "investors" who trade the stock until a "greater fool" comes along to buy it from them, so too a small circle of frauds can trade agit-prop on this board hoping that someone will believe their nonsense.

[BeckieBest]

It's funny to watch the same right wing nuts who cheared Bush on as he created this mess, turn around and criticise Obama for taking the time to figure out the best way to fix it or whether it's even fixable.

It's clear they're desperate to blame all of Bush's failures on Obama.

[crikeytx46]

Get over your childish remarks. I made a point on his indecisiveness!!!

[BeckieBest]

How many times did you vote for Bush?

[crikeytx46]

NONE !!!!!!!!!!!!1

[BeckieBest]

Baloney!!!

And I answered your acusation of indecisiveness.

Try reading slowly for comprehension.

lol!

[crikeytx46]

Obama has had more than enough time to decide what to do on Afghanistan. He received the required reports back in August. He has no spine to come out and say whether or not he will send any more troops. He is unable to "Decide" when, how, where, or why?

And you outright called me a liar! You don't even know me. You asked a question and I answered it but it didn't line up with your assumed pre-judgment of me. You have IMHO showed your true self !!!

[BeckieBest]

corky


Really? How do you know that's enough time to make a decision on a complex mess like Afghanistan? Do you have some special insight or information that the President and the rest of the country doesn't have? Or are you just here to parrot talking points from Limbough and Fox?

After 8 long years of disasterous "leadership" by your hero the "decider", I welcome a President who takes the time to consider whether the mission is worthy of the sacrifice of more troops.

And yes, I am calling you a liar. I'm glad that you caught that.

lol!

[crikeytx46]

I see my point about you has been made!

[BeckieBest]

corky

I see that in the face of logic and reason, you run away.

Check with Rush and get back to us when you get some fresh talking points mmmmmkay?

lol!

[crikeytx46]

He's the most undecisive so called president I have ever seen. Which is it, "No decision on troops this month" or "Decision Soon". He makes America weak!!!

[BeckieBest]

Of course the right wing nuts would rather our President continue to fight a war with no plan and no end in sight the way Bush did for 7 long years.

But our troops deserve a real leader who takes the time to develope a clear strategy and clear goals before he puts them in harms way.

[W_A_H]

Best, I'm a 5th generation moderate Democrat. I worked my tail off to get Obama elected. Bush was an unmitigated disaster, non negotiable, but Obama is unequivocally worse IMO. How many moderates feel the same as me? We'll see but by way of the emotive content in our healthcare support meetings I would say a majority in our party are just as surprised and angry. I can no longer hold a cogent political discussion because I have nothing of substance or example to point too to back it up. Funny we haven?t had a healthcare meeting in about 4 weeks when it was once a weekly event but I won?t be going back because I?m done.

[stryker54]

Obama is a leader? of what? Oh thats right. Hallowen for the kids at the WH. I forget, EXCUSE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

[perceptions5]

Is the installed one, Obama should that it's not "above his pay grade"?

Can someone please confirm.....? (insert eye roll)

[2012EOD]

Hurry, we need to get the health care bill passed!

Hurry, we need to get that Stimulus bill passed!

Military, I will get back to you. Say?nara

[erichsh]

by 2012EOD November 13, 2009 8:21 AM EST
Hurry, we need to get the health care bill passed!
Hurry, we need to get that Stimulus bill passed!
Military, I will get back to you. Say?nara

You forgot about cap and trade! And the Olympics!
Berlin Wall anniversary? Sorry, no time for that.