President Barack Obama spoke to the nation Tuesday night from Afghanistan, one year after terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed by a team of Navy SEALs. The president spoke about the process of transitioning U.S. forces out of Afghanistan in the coming months, stating that he hopes to build an "equal partnership" with the Afghan people.
The president also said that although the Taliban has not been completely eradicated from Afghanistan and although the country is not yet a truly stable democracy, those were not the goals of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Instead, the goal was to capture those behind the 9-11 attacks and drive the al-Qaeda terrorist network from the country, which President Obama said has been accomplished.
President Obama traveled to Afghanistan in secret, landing at Bagram Air Force Base to talk to troops, deliver his speech and sign an agreement with Afghan President Hamid Karzai outlining plans for the American troop withdrawal, set to be complete by 2014.
Quotes
"I recognize that many Americans are tired of war. As President, nothing is more wrenching than signing a letter to a family of the fallen, or looking in the eyes of a child who will grow up without a mother or father. I will not keep Americans in harm's way a single day longer than is absolutely required for our national security. But we must finish the job we started in Afghanistan, and end this war responsibly." - President Barack Obama
"It was here, in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden established a safe-haven for his terrorist organization. It was here, in Afghanistan, where al Qaeda brought new recruits, trained them, and plotted acts of terror. It was here, from within these borders, that al Qaeda launched the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children." - President Barack Obama
Warm Up Questions
1. Where is Afghanistan? What do you know about it?
2. What does the term “Commander in Chief” mean to you? Who is the Commander in Chief?
3. What is terrorism?
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think President Obama chose to give this speech from an Air Force base in Afghanistan instead of from the White House?
2. Why did the president say "this is not a Mission Accomplished speech?" What does he mean by that?
3. Do you think the president's plan for Afghanistan is a good one? Why or why not?
Additional Resources
Attack on Girls School Marks Pivotal Moment for Women in Afghanistan
