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International News Title: President Obama in Afghanistan on anniversary of Bin Laden's death: Defeat of Al Qaeda is 'within reach' Obama flew in secret under the cover of darkness to Afghanistan Tuesday to officially mark the wind down of America’s longest war, which began above the skies of New York more than 10 years ago as Bin Laden’s terrorists slammed planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. The President saluted the city for inspiring the U.S. through the costly fight against terrorism — and he extolled the resolve of New Yorkers as he urged a better America. “As we emerge from a decade of conflict abroad and economic crisis at home, it is time to renew America. An America where our children live free from fear, and have the skills to claim their dreams. A united America of grit and resilience, where sunlight glistens off soaring new towers in downtown Manhattan and we build our future as one people, as one nation.” In a nationally televised 11-minute address Tuesday night, Obama vowed the U.S. would end the war in Afghanistan unlike how it was launched — on our terms. The commander-in-chief inked a 10-year postwar security deal with shaky Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai before speaking to a hangar full of raucous U.S. troops, and then the American people via satellite. “Our goal is not to build a country in America’s image,” he said in his talk from Bagram Air Base, “or to eradicate every vestige of the Taliban. . . . Our goal is to destroy Al Qaeda, and we are on a path to do exactly that.” “We devastated Al Qaeda’s leadership, taking out over 20 of their top 30 leaders. And one year ago, from a base here in Afghanistan, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden. “The goal that I set — to defeat Al Qaeda and deny it a chance to rebuild — is now within our reach,” he added. “We must finish the job we started in Afghanistan and end this war responsibly.” The surprise visit followed a hush-hush 13-hour flight on Air Force One, with reporters aboard stripped of their smartphones as staff tried to stamp out online rumors of the trip, citing security risks. The stealth six-hour photo op and national address came after a visit Tuesday by GOP rival Mitt Romney to the West Village firehouse of Engine 24/Ladder 5, which lost 11 men on 9/11. Romney fought to assure voters he would have given the go order on the Navy SEALs’ May 1, 2011, lethal Bin Laden raid. A new Obama ad shows 2007 footage in which the former Massachusetts governor questioned “moving heaven and earth ... to catch one person.” Joined by backer and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Romney accused Obama of exploiting an apolitical victory. “I think it’s totally appropriate for the President to express to the American people that he had an important role in taking out Osama Bin Laden,” Romney said. “But I think politicizing it and trying to draw a distinction between him and myself was an inappropriate use of an event that brought America together,” Romney said. Obama’s first trip to Afghanistan since December 2010 followed a series of incidents stoking tensions between the two nations and threatening to complicate the U.S. military drawdown. Deadly violence erupted in February after coalition troops burned used Korans, unaware of their offense. Then in March, American Sgt. Robert Bales allegedly massacred 17 Afghan civilians. He was whisked back to the U.S. and charged with murder, but Karzai and others demanded a public trial there. Republicans grumbled that the trip is a political victory lap funded by taxpayers. Senior administration officials, however, said the trip’s timing was dictated by negotiations and a desire to sign off on the deal before an upcoming NATO summit in Chicago. On Monday, that “soaring new tower” to which Obama referred, One World Trade Center, eclipsed the Empire State Building as the city’s tallest structure. With News Wire Services jstraw@nydailynews.com BLAH BLAH BLAH This GWBush inspired "WAR" has gone on for OVER ten years. America is a LOSER.
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#10. To: buckeroo (#0)
Knocking off osamma was just a regime change - publicity stunt for the liberals !
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