WEST POINT, N.Y. (December 1, 2009)—In a much-anticipated nationally televised speech Tuesday night from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, President Barack Obama said he is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, but also pledged to begin withdrawing troops from the country within 18 months.

The escalation is supposed to be completed by next summer, which is quicker than originally planned, and it's aimed at reversing the significant gains the Taliban has made since Mr. Obama took office 10 months ago.

“The 30,000 additional troops that I am announcing tonight will deploy in the first part of 2010 – the fastest pace possible – so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers,” he said.

“They will increase our ability to train competent Afghan Security Forces, and to partner with them so that more Afghans can get into the fight. And they will help create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans,” he said.

Mr. Obama said he has asked U.S. allies to contribute to the force escalation.

“Our friends have fought and bled and died alongside us in Afghanistan. Now, we must come together to end this war successfully,” he said.

“For what’s at stake is not simply a test of NATO’s credibility – what’s at stake is the security of our Allies, and the common security of the world.”

The announcement comes as a new survey by the Gallup organization suggests that only 35 percent of Americans now approve of Mr. Obama's handling of the war.

And the president’s plan is already being met with skepticism in Congress, where some liberal Democrats are threatening to try to block funding for the troop increase, while Republicans say setting a timetable for a withdrawal will demonstrate weakness.

Both Central Texas congressmen supported the president’s plan, but both expressed concern about setting a date to begin withdrawing the forces.

“The decision on when to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan should be based on conditions on the ground there and on the advice of U.S. military leaders in the field rather than on any preset deadline. The July 2011 date for the beginning of a U.S. draw down could be used to pressure Afghanistan’s political leaders to take more responsibility for their own country’s future security, but it should not be an arbitrary, inflexible deadline,” said Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

“I support the President’s surge proposal,” said Rep. John Carter, R- Round Rock. I would prefer it to be with more troops, and that we were not announcing an arbitrary withdrawal date. However, I will back the President’s decision as Commander-in-Chief, and will vote whatever funds are needed by our troops. And I believe we should fund this surge with unused monies from the stimulus, not from any new taxes or surcharges.”

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, called the president’s announcement “a critical step” in U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, but said Mr. Obama must be prepared to send additional troops.

“It has long been my view that failure in Afghanistan will represent a disastrous defeat for NATO and put the future of the Alliance at risk. Our fight in Afghanistan requires a full-spectrum counterinsurgency with a substantially greater commitment of troops and resources from our NATO allies. The reemergence of a terrorist safe-haven in Afghanistan will threaten the security of the United States and all of our allies,” Hutchison said.