Goal to defeat al-Qaeda within reach, says Obama

US President Barack Obama today said America had “turned the tide of war” in Afghanistan in the last three years, asserting that his goal to defeat al-Qaeda and deny it a chance to rebuild was now “within reach”.In a nationally televised address to the nation from Bagram air force base in Afghanistan, where he made an unannounced visit last night, Obama said, “America spent nearly eight years fighting a different war in Iraq. And al-Qaeda’s extremist allies within the Taliban have waged a brutal insurgency. But over the last three years the tide has turned.”
Obama said US broke the Taliban’s momentum, built strong Afghan security forces and “devastated” al-Qaeda’s leadership, taking out over 20 of their top 30 leaders.

From: http://ping.fm/Um8qc