国际英语新闻：Obama lays out goals, strategies in Afghanistan, Pakistan

WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday announced a comprehensive new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, including sending more troops to Afghanistan and providing new funds for Pakistan.

    "To achieve our goals, we need a stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy," said Obama at the White House, flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Roberts Gates and National Security Advisor James Jones.

    In laying out the new strategy, the president said that the U.S. goal is to defeat al-Qaeda and to strengthen anti-terrorism capabilities of both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    　"A CLEAR, FOCUSED GOAL"

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks in Washington announcing a comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan March 27, 2009. Standing behind Obama (L-R) are advisor Bruce Riedel, Commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen, National Security Advisor James Jones, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

    Obama acknowledged that the situation in Afghanistan "is increasingly perilous."

    "It has been more than seven years since the Taliban was removed from power, yet war rages on, and insurgents control parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan," Obama said. "Attacks against our troops, our NATO allies, and the Afghan government have risen steadily. Most painfully, 2008 was the deadliest year of the war for American forces."

    Obama said the U.S. purpose in Afghanistan is "clear and focused."

    The mission, the president said, is "to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future."

    "That is the goal that must be achieved," Obama said. "That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: we will defeat you."

    However, the president also hinted that the United States is open to talks with moderate elements of the Taliban.

    "There are also those who have taken up arms because of coercion, or simply for a price... That is why we will work with local leaders, the Afghan government, and international partners to have a reconciliation process in every province," he said.

    MORE TROOPS FOR AFGHANISTAN

    To defeat terrorists, Obama said he envisions a regional approach that includes both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    "The future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of its neighbor, Pakistan. In the nearly eight years since 9/11, al-Qaeda and its extremist allies have moved across the border to the remote areas of the Pakistani frontier," he said.

    Obama said the Afghan-Pakistani border region has become the most dangerous place in the world.

    "To enhance the military, governance, and economic capacity of Afghanistan and Pakistan, we have to marshal international support," the president said.

    "To defeat an enemy that heeds no borders or laws of war, we must recognize the fundamental connection between the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan," he added.

    To root out al-Qaeda in both countries, Obama said he will deploy 4,000 more troops to train Afghan security forces later this spring.

    He urged the Congress to approve 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in new funding for Pakistan.

    "For the first time, this will fully resource our effort to train and support the Afghan army and police," the president said. "Every American unit in Afghanistan will be partnered with an Afghan unit, and we will seek additional trainers from our NATO allies to ensure that every Afghan unit has a coalition partner."

    The new troops, which are in addition to the 17,000 soldiers the president announced earlier for Afghanistan, will be charged with training and building the Afghan army and police force.

    Obama also said he wants to double the Afghan army's ranks to 135,000 and the police force to 80,000 by 2011.

    FUNDS FOR PAKISTAN

    Meanwhile, to uproot terrorist safe heavens in Pakistan, Obama said he is "calling upon Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsors by John Kerry and Richard Lugar that authorizes 1.5 billion dollars in direct support to the Pakistani people every year over the next five years."

    "It is important for the American people to understand that Pakistan needs our help in going after al-Qaeda," he said.

    Meanwhile, Obama said Pakistan's anti-terrorism record has been "mixed."

    "Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders," he said, hinting the United States will take unilateral military action if it gets credible intelligence on terrorists.

    "We will insist that action be taken -- one way or another -- when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets," he said.

    Obama also offered incentives for Pakistan.

    "To help Pakistan weather the economic crisis, we must continue to work with the IMF, the World Bank and other international partners... we must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan," he said.

    The president also said the United States will launch a trilateral dialogue with Afghanistan and Pakistan on a regular basis.

    "CIVILIAN SURGE"

    The new strategy also calls for a "civilian surge" in which hundreds of U.S. civilian officials would be deployed across Afghanistan to try to counter the effects of the insurgency, according to Obama.

    "A campaign against extremism will not succeed with bullets or bombs alone... This push must be joined by a dramatic increase in our civilian effort," he said.

    "To advance security, opportunity, and justice -- not just in Kabul, but from the bottom up in the provinces -- we need agricultural specialists and educators; engineers and lawyers," said Obama.

    "That is why I am ordering a substantial increase in our civilians on the ground," he said.

    Obama also said he will approve investments in the State Department and foreign assistance programs to support the "civilian surge" in Afghanistan.

    Analysts said Obama's new strategy replicates a strategy used in Iraq two years ago, which including promising deeper U.S. involvement and prodding governments in the region to take more responsibility.

    The president has been conducting a complete review of the Afghan strategy since he took office in January.

    Clinton plans to attend a U.S.-backed international conference on Afghanistan next week in The Hague. Obama, meanwhile, was expected to explain his new strategy to allies at the NATO summit in April.