Obama: Afghan war 'fundamental' to U.S.

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By Matthew Mosk

PHOENIX | Owning an increasingly difficult struggle in Afghanistan, President Obama told 5,000 veterans to brace for a daunting and perhaps bloody period in a war the United States has no choice but to fight.

"This is not a war of choice; this is a war of necessity," Mr. Obama told a gathering of the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation's largest military veterans group. "This is not only a war worth fighting; it is fundamental to the defense of our people."

In a 35-minute speech to a group that harbors, in some instances, deep reservations about the president's defense policies, Mr. Obama warned starkly that there "will be more difficult days ahead" as the U.S. military escalates operations against Islamist militants. He made the speech just days before Thursday's crucial presidential election in Afghanistan.

"The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight, and we wont defeat it overnight," Mr. Obama said. "This will not be quick. This will not be easy."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, 51, the incumbent, is expected to win re-election despite widespread criticism among ordinary Afghans and Western analysts of weak leadership, rampant corruption and tolerance of drug trafficking. A late surge by his chief rival, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, threatens to deny Mr. Karzai the majority needed to win outright in the first round of voting.

The Obama administration is in the midst of an escalation in Afghanistan, with 62,000 American troops now on Afghan soil, including 21,000 whom he dispatched as part of a "surge." The president's speech appeared in part to be aimed at preparing the country for the rough road ahead.

"These new efforts have not been without a price," he said. "The fighting has been fierce. More Americans have given their lives."

As he prosecutes the Afghanistan war, Mr. Obama said, he will carefully look after the needs of returning troops and work to eliminate wasteful spending that he thinks is keeping the Pentagon from using the funds it needs to get the job done.

To drive home his defense of the effort under way in Afghanistan, the president made clear reference to the contrasts between the Afghanistan war and the one he inherited in Iraq.

The Afghanistan war, he said, "will be based on good intelligence and guided by a sound strategy. ... I will give you a clear mission, defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done."