Who Obama Is:Commander-in-Chief

In a major address last week,President Barack Obama set out his strategy for the war in Afghanistan,which will be a central topic of the NATO summit the President will attend in Europe April 3-4.If anyone considered him a pacifist,they will have to reconsider in light of his firm position,which Senator John McCain(R-Arizona),his opponent in the recent election,described as a good plan.The situation in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly perilous,President Obama warned.If the Afghan government falls,the country will again be a base for al-Qaida attacks on America.The al-Qaida leadership uses the Pakistan frontier with Afghanistan to train and launch attacks.This is an international security concern of the highest order.The safety of people around the world is at stake.Afghanistan would be cast into the shadow of perpetual violence.I want the American people to understand we have a clear goal:to disrupt,dismantle and defeat al-Qaida.We must recognize the fundamental connection between Pakistan and Afghanistan.The terrorists within Pakistan's borders are a grave threat to Pakistan.They are a cancer that threatens to kill Pakistan from within.Military assistance to Pakistan is essential.To help Pakistan with the economic crisis,there must be International Monetary Fund and World Bank assistance.We must stand for lasting opportunity in Pakistan,the President held.