State Department diplomacy is key to new Afghan Strategy

Friday morning, Secretay Clinton joined President Obama for his Press Announcement announcong a new strategy consisting of increasing troops in Afghanistan while boosting aid in Pakistan with the hopes of weakening al-Qaeda. They were joined by policy adviser Bruce Riedel, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, National Security Adviser James Jones, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Undersecretary of Defense for policy, Michelle A. Flournoy, and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Obama began by saying his team has completed "a comprehensive new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan."

"Many people want to know, what is our purpose in Afghanistan? So let me be clear," Obama continues.

"Al-Qaeda and its allies -- the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks -- are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan. And 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."

"For the American people," Obama says, the Afghan-Pakistan border has become "the most dangerous place in the world" because of the terrorists' presence there.

He then gave a clear message saying: "And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: we will defeat you."

And he gave a clear message to the people of Afghanistan: "We are not in Afghanistan to control that country or to dictate its future. We are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and allies, and the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who have suffered the most at the hands of violent extremists."

He called for aid, by calling upon Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by John Kerry and Richard Lugar that authorizes $1.5 billion in direct support to the Pakistani people every year over the next five years -- resources that will build schools, roads, and hospitals, and strengthen Pakistan's democracy.

He called for a troop increase, saying later this spring we will deploy approximately 4,000 U.S. troops to train Afghan Security Forces but not forgetting to accelerate our efforts to build an Afghan Army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000 in order to turn over security responsibility to the Afghans.

He also called for an increase in the civillan presense, saying this is how we can help the Afghan government serve its people, and develop an economy that isn't dominated by illicit drugs. And by seeking civilian support from our partners and allies, from the United Nations and international aid organizations -- an effort that he called upon Secretary Clinton to carry forward next week in the Hague.

The AP reported late Friday after Obama announced the results of his administration's review of policy for the region, Hillary said the success of Obama's new plan depends on the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

"Whether this strategy succeeds or not depends in large part on all of us... The major shift in this strategy is to emphasize our diplomatic and civilian efforts to achieve our objectives. That means more civilian expertise working on the ground; it means pursuing greater regional diplomacy; and it means sustained high-level attention and focus in Washington." Now, the U.S. part of the strategy aimed at defeating al-Qaida, the Taliban and other extremists will see hundreds more diplomats and aid workers deployed in Afghanistan and provide $1.5 billion in annual development aid to Pakistan.

The White House has not released an estimate of the total cost but it is expected to run into the billions of dollars just on State Department and foreign assistance programs.

Hillary said money for the effort was critical and would mean "changing the way we do business" to ensure congressional support.

"This new strategy makes clear that we must implement significant changes in the management, resources and focus of our foreign assistance."

She also noted that the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, would play the main role on overseeing the civilian parts of the plan.

"I ask for all of your ideas, talent, creativity, hard work and sacrifice to help make this new strategy succeed... The ability of the Afghan and Pakistani people to build peaceful and prosperous lives — and the future national security of the United States — requires nothing less."

View a clip of the press conference (with Hillary in the background) here.