Obama: 'Disrupt, Dismantle, and Defeat' al Qaeda While Supporting the Afghan and Pakistani People

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
by Christine Bowman

In a major foreign policy statement today, President Barack Obama outlined his strategic goals and policy proposals concerning Afghanistan and Pakistan. He described the situation in the region as "increasingly perilous," adding that "al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan ..."

The Obama Administration plan focuses on isolating al Qaeda and offering the Afghan and Pakistani people greater security against terrorists, coupled with economic and infrastructure support. It also calls for international backing in both initiatives.

Acknowledging the public's confusion as to America's goals in the region, President Obama summarized the current security situation:

... let me be clear: al Qaeda and its allies – the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks – are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. ... if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban – or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged – that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.

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. This almost certainly includes al Qaeda’s leadership: Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. They have used this mountainous terrain as a safe-haven to hide, train terrorists, communicate with followers, plot attacks, and send fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan. For the American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world.

... I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: 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.

President Obama characterized his administration's plan for the region as a "stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy." He emphasized the outlaw nature of the terrorist groups and the common safety needs of the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan, America, and the world.

For the Afghan people, a return to Taliban rule would condemn their country to brutal governance, international isolation, a paralyzed economy, and the denial of basic human rights to the Afghan people – especially women and girls. The return in force of al Qaeda terrorists who would accompany the core Taliban leadership would cast Afghanistan under the shadow of perpetual violence.

... The terrorists within Pakistan’s borders are not simply enemies of America or Afghanistan – they are a grave and urgent danger to the people of Pakistan. ... Make no mistake: al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within.

... To avoid the mistakes of the past, we must make clear that our relationship with Pakistan is grounded in support for Pakistan’s democratic institutions and the Pakistani people.

... Al Qaeda offers the people of Pakistan nothing but destruction. We stand for something different.

To support Pakistan, the President endorsed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar that would provide $1.5 billion a year for five years to "build schools, roads, and hospitals, and strengthen Pakistan’s democracy." The President also announced a second bill, sponsored by Maria Cantwell, Chris Van Hollen and Peter Hoekstra, that would create "opportunity zones in the border region to develop the economy and bring hope to places plagued by violence."

The President concluded:

... this is a down payment on our own future – because the security of our two countries is shared. Pakistan’s government must be a stronger partner in destroying these safe-havens, and we must isolate al Qaeda from the Pakistani people. These steps in Pakistan are also indispensable to our effort in Afghanistan, which will see no end to violence if insurgents move freely back and forth across the border. 

Text of Prepared Remarks

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

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