OBAMA CONFIRMS AFGHAN
TROOPS PULL OUT, ALSO WARNS NORTH KOREA and IRAN
U.S.
President Barack Obama on February 2013, announced to bring 34,000 American
troops back from war-torn Afghanistan in the nect one year as he warned North
Korea and Iran to meet the international obligation on their controversial
nuclear programme or face firm action.
In
an inspiring State of Union Address which is also the first of his second term,
Obama also came out with specific proposals to rejuvenate the country’s fragile
economy by boosting the middle class, creating jobs, fixing the finances,
increasing minimum wages and comprehensive immigration reform to attract the
best talent of the world.
"This spring, our forces will move into a
support role, while Afghan security forces take the lead.
Tonight, I can announce that over the next year, another
34,000 American
troops will come home from Afghanistan,"
Obama said.
Obama's move will reduce by more than half the
current
force level of 66,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The US, NATO and Afghanistan agreed in Lisbon
in
2010, and affirmed in Chicago last year, that
Kabul will assume full responsibility for its security by
the end of
2014, he said.
Obama termed North Korea's nuclear tests as 'provocative' and vowed to take 'firm action' against Pyongyang, a day after the reclusive Communist state
conducted its third and most powerful nuclear
explosion
despite international sanctions. "The
regime in North Korea must know that they will only achieve
security and prosperity by meeting their international
obligations. Provocations of the sort we saw last night
will only isolate them further, as we stand by our allies,
strengthen our own missile defence, and lead the world in
taking firm action in response to these threats," he said. He
also told Iranian leaders it was time to end the standoff over Tehran's
nuclear programme, saying the diplomatic option for Islamic
republic is still open. "The leaders of Iran must
recognise that now is the time for a diplomatic solution, because a coalition
stands united in demanding that they meet their obligations, and
we will do what is necessary to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon,"
he said.
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