WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama Wednesday ordered all 33,000 US surge troops home from Afghanistan by next summer and stated the source of the end of the war, vowing to go to nation building at home.
In a landmark moment for American foreign policy, Obama also significantly curtailed US war aims, saying Washington would no longer try to construct a "perfect" Afghanistan from a nation traumatized by its blood soaked history.
"Tonight, we have solace in knowing that the surge of war is receding," Obama said in 13-minute primemetre speech at a time of rising fatigue over costly foreign wars among Americans ground down by deep economic insecurity.
"Even as there will be dark days beforehand in Afghanistan, the fall of a strong peace can be seen in the distance. These long wars will do to a responsible end," Obama said.
The president argued US forces had made great strides towards the objectives of the troop surge strategy he arranged in December 2009 by reversing Taliban momentum, crushing Al-Qaeda and training new Afghan forces.
But he finally rejected appeals from the Pentagon for a slower drawdown to safeguard gains against the Taliban and his decision will be seen as a political defeat for talismanic war General David Petraeus.
The chairman said he would, as promised, begin the US withdrawal this July and that 10,000 of the more than 30,000 troops he attached to the escalation of the difference would be home this year.
A further 23,000 surge troops will be withdrawn by next summer, and more yet-to-be announced drawdowns will continue, until Afghan forces assume security responsibility in 2014.
"This is the beginning - but not the end - of our cause to roll down this war," Obama said.
More than 1,600 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the US invasion after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The US death toll already this year stands at 187.
The president`s speech came as domestic questions mount over the use of the Afghan war, following the cleanup of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by Navy SEALs last month, and as Washington backs fragile Afghan reconciliation talks with the Taliban.
But despite the drawdowns, there will however be more than 65,000 troops in Afghanistan when Obama asks Americans to make him a 2nd condition in November 2012.
Turning to Al-Qaeda, Obama said documents seized from bin Laden`s compound in Pakistan showed the formation was under "tremendous strain." "Bin Laden expressed fear that Al-Qaeda has been unable to effectively replace senior terrorists that have been killed, and that Al-Qaeda has failed in its attempt to portray America as a state at war with Islam - thereby draining more widespread support," he said.
Obama also set the Afghan mission in the circumstance of his wider foreign policy and war strategy, arguing he has worn down 100,000 troops from Iraq and will manage the entire withdrawal by the end of this year.
He proclaimed a Nato summit to review progress on Afghanistan will have spot in Chicago in May 2012, alongside the G8 summit of industrialized nations. (AFP)
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