Obama approved the order to deploy 17,000 troops in Afghanistan -- which beefs up the US troop strength by 50 per cent -- even before the strategic and policy review of Afghanistan and Pakistan he had commissioned under the direction of former Central Intelligence Agency analyst Bruce Riedel.
The US President stated that it was imperative to 'stabilise a deteriorating situation'.
"There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed forces into harm's way," he said, but added, "I do it today, mindful that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent and swift action."
Obama spoke of how "the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan and Al Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe haven along the Pakistani border."
Image: A file photograph of US President Barack Obama.
Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters
Also See: Coverage: Obama becomes US President
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