Obama, Medvedev hold press conference

Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama appeared in a joint press conference after their meeting in Moscow today.

They announced an agreement between the United States and Russia on cooperation in Afghanistan.

The two leaders talked about the situation in Georgia in which Obama says there were differences, but that the leaders agreed that the situation should be resolved peacefully.

Russia, US Cooperation on Afghanistan Shows 180 Degree Turn

FOXNews - Eve Zibel - ‎33 minutes ago‎

A deal between the United States and Russia to increase assistance and training in Afghanistan is being hailed as a full turn-around for two nations that had once been on opposite sides during a different Afghan war.

Video: Obama and Medvedev "Reset" US-Russian Relations - Bloomberg Bloomberg

Economy On Back Burner On Day One Of Obama-Medvedev Summit Wall Street Journal

Karzai praises Obama on engaging Taliban

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai on Sunday hailed President Barack Obama's call for engaging the Taliban.

"It is very good news that the American president, his Excellency Obama, has backed talks with those Taliban that he termed as moderate," Karzai said at an International Women's Day event in Kabul.

"This is the Afghan government's long stand. We wanted this and we support and stand with them to bring peace and stability to this land. Only those who have left their homes and are fighting their country because they are forced to, or are scared (of being arrested) or for other reasons, they are welcome (to join talks)."

Many analysts feel that a purely military solution in Afghanistan is no longer tenable as the Taliban has been growing in strength across most of the country.


Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has requested that national elections, which were due to take place in August, be brought forward to April so as to be in line with the constitution. Inside Story asks: Is Karzai respecting the constitutional deadline, as his supporters claim, or is he attempting to gain an unfair advantage, as his opponents suggest? (Al-Jazeera)

Washington Post

Karzai hails US call for engaging Taliban

PRESS TV - ‎43 minutes ago‎

Afghanistan's president has welcomed the new US administration's readiness to engage 'moderate elements' of the Taliban in peace talks.

Karzai welcomes Obama call to reach out to Taliban The Associated Press

Afghan leader Karzai backs Obama's call on Taliban Reuters

President Barack Obama was greeted by Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean upon arriving in Ottawa for his first foreign visit.

Obama will meet separately with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and opposition leader Michael Ignatieff. Among the items on the agenda are trade, the environment and the war in Afghanistan.

Canada is hoping Obama will remain committed to NAFTA and the WTO. Also, they are worried that about environmental opposition to the type of "dirty" oil exported from Canada that produces a larger carbon footprint.

Obama will also discuss Canada's plan to pull out its troops from Afghanistan by 2011.

Thu Feb 19, 11:03 AM ET

President Barack Obama is escorted by Canada's Governor General Michaelle Jean upon his arrival in Ottawa, Canada, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009.

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


Obama Arrives in Canada for First International Trip
Washington Post - 44 minutes ago
By Michael D. Shear OTTAWA, Feb. 19 -- President Obama touched down Thursday morning in this snowy Canadian capital -- his first foray outside the United States as president -- and headed for discussion of trade and the environment with Prime Minister ...
Afghanistan, trade on table as Obama visits Canada CNN International
Comment by Pat Gallagher Director of Environmental Law, Sierra Club

Obama and Afghanistan

A number of commentaries have been published recently exploring President Barack Obama's strategy in Afghanistan.

During the election, Obama promised to withdraw troops, except a non-combat residual force, from Iraq, but increase the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. He saw the mountainous country as the central front against terrorism and vowed to tackle al-Qaeda, which operates both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is less clear whether Obama is intent on stamping out the Taliban or is open to negotiations with that fundamentalist group.

Most of the opinion pieces question whether a "surge" would work in Afghanistan or whether the U.S. might be heading into another Vietnam-like quagmire.

The steady growth and expansion of the Taliban in recent years is well-documented. They now control much of the rural countryside in the eastern and southern parts of the country, and they are closing in on the capital Kabul. It is mainly in the northern areas, where the old "Northern Alliance" was based, and Kabul that U.S. and NATO forces can find any friends in the country.

Taliban forces are holed up in rugged mountain strongholds that are extremely difficult to operate in. Even small areas in this region can only be secured with large numbers of forces, and consequently many supply and communication routes are vulnerable to attackers.

NATO forces also appear to be losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the people. The Taliban, at least, appears to have little trouble finding new recruits even though they have adopted suicide tactics similar to those used by al-Qaeda.

Obama reportedly plans to increase troop strength in Afghanistan by about 30,000 with a lot of the concentration in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar. He also plans to use more private security companies to guard bases and transporation routes. The Kandahar bases is under rapid expansion to host an extra 10,000 U.S. troops.

Pakistan is often mentioned in the same breath as Afghanistan whenever the war is discussed by the new administration officials. Obama has hinted that he will place more pressure on Islamabad to exterminate insurgents in their mists, and that he will take unilateral action in certain instances.




Sky News
Obama's War Fearing Another Quagmire in Afghanistan
New York Times, United States - 16 hours ago
By HELENE COOPER WASHINGTON — Can President Obama succeed in that long-lamented “graveyard of empires” — a place that has crushed foreign occupiers for more ...
President Obama revs up Afghan fight; backseats Iraq at Clinton debut New York Daily News
Obama's Vietnam? Washington Times
Obstacles are many for US in Afghanistan Kansas City Star

Pakistan air strikes underscore continuation of Bush policy

President Barack Obama launched his first air strikes into Pakistan indicating that he will continue the Bush policy of unilateral military action against the spoken will of the Pakistani government.

This is the first action since Obama took office on Tuesday that is likely to attract some opposition from progressive groups that supported him strongly during the campaign. Vanity Fair has this to say:

Obama can't be expected to pander to liberals for the next four years. But the decision to double down in Afghanistan carries considerable risk. Like the economy, it is a huge problem. But even the economy can be expected to bounce back sometime in the next few years. If Afghanistan turns into Obama's Iraq, he may miss the support of the anti-war left, which, it's worth remembering, helped propel him past Hillary Clinton not so very long ago.

Los Angeles Times
Strikes in Pakistan Underscore Obama’s Options
New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
Even as the CIA continues its strikes just inside Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, Mr. Obama and his top national security aides are likely to review in ...
Suspected US missile attacks kill 18 in Pakistan Los Angeles Times
Suspected US Missile Strikes Kill at Least 20 in Pakistan Washington Post
Deadly missiles strike PakistanBBC News




WELT ONLINE
ANALYSIS: Obama, Pakistan and Afghanistan —Najmuddin A Shaikh
Daily Times, Pakistan - Jan 22, 2009
The “hard earned peace” that Obama is seeking in Afghanistan (and Pakistan, since for some time now the American security establishment and many who are now ...
Video: Obama, Clinton At State Dept. CBS


Afghan, Pakistani Officials Welcome Broader Strategy From US ... Voice of America
Obama names Mideast, South Asia envoys Los Angeles Times

Mumbai attacks: Preemptive strike against Obama?

A new theory suggests that the Mumbai attacks were focused on neutralizing President-elect Barack Obama's strategy in the region.

“There’s a lot of clamour for action against Pakistan from India,” Pratap Bhanu Mehta, the head of the Centre for Policy Research. “This attack was not just an attempt to scuttle India’s peace process with Pakistan. It was in many ways a pre-emptive strike against [Barack] Obama’s strategy for the region.”

Obama had promised to focus US efforts on the tribal regions that border Afghanistan and Pakistan, including pressuring Islamabad to step up pressure against al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives working in the area.

However, ifPakistan diverts its forces to the border with India in fear of possible reprisal for the Mumbai attacks, Washington will have to tread more carefully in the region.

Vancouver Sun

Mumbai attacks ‘were a ploy to wreck Obama plan to isolate al-Qaeda’ Times Online - 4 hours ago Relations between India and Pakistan were on a knife edge last night amid fears that Delhi’s response to the Mumbai attacks could undermine the Pakistani army’s campaign against Islamic militants on the frontier with Afghanistan. The Region: India and Israel: The parallels Jerusalem Post Pak shifts from Afghanistan to India PRESS TV

TopNews

Obama: Mumbai attacks will not defeat India's democracy
Jerusalem Post, Israel - Nov 28, 2008
Obama was monitoring the situation in Mumbai, where more than 150 people were killed in violence that began Wednesday night when gunmen attacked 10 sites ...
Investigation Begins as Assault in Mumbai Ends Washington Post
Obama sends condolences to Indian PM for Mumbai attacks victims Xinhua
A message to Obama? Ynetnews

Karzai, Obama discuss Afghanistan security

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai spoke with US President-elect Barack Obama on Sunday for the first time. The two discussed the security situation in Afghanistan.

During the campaign, Obama promised to reinforce the US presence in Afghanistan by at least one brigade or about 4,000 troops. Karzai has publicly requested that Obama send 20,000 more troops to the country. Insurgent attacks in Afghanistan are up 30 percent from 2007.

Canada.com

Obama, Karzai Discuss Afghan Security Voice of America - 10 hours ago By VOA News Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he has spoken with US President-elect Barack Obama for the first time since Mr. Obama won the US election. Obama committed to Afghanistan, says Karzai's office AFP Obama tells Karzai Afghan security will be priority Reuters US defense chief: More forces for Afghanistan vote The Associated Press

A Taliban attack on a supply convoy.

Anti-war groups fear Obama cabinet of "hawks"

A Los Angeles Times article today reported that antiwar activists are fearful that President-elect Barack Obama is selecting hawkish appointees for key national security posts.

During the early part of his campaign, Obama attracted media attention for his consistent opposition to the Iraq War, which set him apart from his opponents.

However, so far, Obama has leaned heavily toward nominees who supported the war. Sam Husseini of the Institute for Public Accuracy noted: "It's astonishing that not one of the 23 senators or 133 House members who voted against the war is in the mix" for cabinet positions.

Many groups are worried about Obama's current commitment to pull out troops from Iraq in 16 months, a key campaign promise that he reiterated repeatedly throughout both the primary and general election campaigns.

Others believe that Obama should be given a chance, and note that he's not even in office yet. "I take him at his word that he is committed to ending the occupation of Iraq in 16 months and that he's going to assemble a team that's committed to that goal," said Tom Andrews, national director of Win Without War.

Obama has also said that he plans to ratchet military operations in Afghanistan and also possibly Pakistan in pursuit of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, many military commanders are ready to negotiate with the Taliban, at least, frustrated in their efforts to squash the fundamentalist organization.

Family Security Matters
Anti-war groups fear Obama appointees are too hawkish
Newsday, NY - 13 hours ago
BY PAUL RICHTER | LOS ANGELES TIMES WASHINGTON - Anti-war groups and liberal activists are increasingly concerned at signs that Barack Obama's national ...

Activists: Obama Cabinet picks backed war United Press International
Keep Gates Wall Street Journal
Iraq war protesters fear cabinet shortlist Sydney Morning Herald

Barack Obama meets with Afghan President Karzai

AFP/HO Photo: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left) walks with US Democratic Presidential contender Barack Obama in Kabul. Obama met with Afghan Karzai, who has been criticised by the Illinois senator for not doing enough to rebuild his war-torn country.(AFP/HO/Ho)

Sen. Barack Obama met today with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai in Kabul as he continues his overseas tour.

In a joint statement, Obama together with Sens. Chuck Hagel and Jack Reed said: ""Our message to the Afghan government is this: We want a strong partnership based on 'more for more' — more resources from the United States and NATO, and more action from the Afghan government to improve the lives of the Afghan people. We need a sense of urgency and determination."

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban and al-Qaeda continue to regroup in the country particularly near the Pakistani border. Some experts believe resources diverted toward the "surge" in Iraq have prevented the international force from adequately dealing with the threat in Afghanistan.

The Afghan government operates as under siege and in many ways it is with the countryside largely controlled by insurgents.

Attacks in eastern Afghanistan are up 40 percent from the same time last year.

Barack Obama tours Afghanistan war zone

Sen. Barack Obama visited Kuwait and Afghanistan as part of an official congressional delegation and kicking off his tour of foreign countries.

Obama hopes to visit Jalalabad airfield, if the weather permits, and he will meet with President Hamid Karzai during his stay in Afghanistan.

The Illinois senator is traveling with Sens. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican and Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, both of whom are war veterans.

"This is a war that we have to win," he said. "I will send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan, and use this commitment to seek greater contributions — with fewer restrictions — from NATO allies. I will focus on training Afghan security forces and supporting an Afghan judiciary, with more resources and incentives for American officers who perform these missions," Obama said in a speech earlier this week.

He is also expected to visit Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, traveling on a jet chartered by his presidential campaign, before returning to the United States.

Obama Videos: NAACP and Security Address

Sen. Barack Obama addresses the NAACP Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio during Youth Night.

If elected, Obama will become the first African American president on the 100th anniversary of the NAACP.




Here's the video of Barack's speech on the Iraq War and national security in Washington DC today. He said:

I am running for President of the United States to lead this country in a new direction – to seize this moment’s promise. Instead of being distracted from the most pressing threats that we face, I want to overcome them. Instead of pushing the entire burden of our foreign policy on to the brave men and women of our military, I want to use all elements of American power to keep us safe, and prosperous, and free. Instead of alienating ourselves from the world, I want America – once again – to lead.

As President, I will pursue a tough, smart and principled national security strategy – one that recognizes that we have interests not just in Baghdad, but in Kandahar and Karachi, in Tokyo and London, in Beijing and Berlin. I will focus this strategy on five goals essential to making America safer: ending the war in Iraq responsibly; finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban; securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Clearly Iraq is the one issue that stand out so clearly as a difference between Barack Obama and John McCain.




And's here a Flickr slideshow from the Washington talk:

Obama Addresses National Security Issues in DC

Ahead of a major address by Sen. Barack Obama on his policy on Iraq, Afghanistan and other national security issues, the campaign released a new TV ad highlighting the senator's work on stopping the smuggling of nuclear weapons.

The ad titled "America's Leadership" will air in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

The selection of states for this ad might give some indication of which states the Obama campaign is targeting as battleground areas.



Read the text of Barack's address "A Strategy for A New World" as prepared for delivery in Washington DC today.