If the president and the nation decide that the war is important enough to fight, then it ought to be important enough to pay for.
The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 - the fastest pace possible - so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers
I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of the violent extremism practiced by al Qaeda
These additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011
I expect at least 5,000 more forces from other countries in our alliance and possibly a few thousand more
But it will be clear to the Afghan government - and, more importantly, to the Afghan people - that they will ultimately be responsible for their own country.
We are confident that there will be further contributions in the days and weeks ahead
After the conference ... Germany will decide whether, and if necessary, what additional efforts we can make. We hear the wishes of the United States but we will not decide in the coming days but after the conference.
I honestly believe I was meant to meet Lee and I was meant to get married
I think it’s important to have children with the right person - and Lee’s the first guy I have ever wanted them with.