"Nobody thinks that Afghanistan is gonna be a model Jeffersonian democracy," Mr. Obama said. "What we're looking to do is difficult, very difficult, but it's a fairly modest goal, which is, don't allow terrorists to operate from this region; don't allow them to create big training camps and to plan attacks against the U.S. homeland with impunity.
"That can be accomplished," he said. "We can stabilize Afghanistan sufficiently and we can get enough cooperation from Pakistan that we are not magnifying the threat against the homeland."
"As we end July it's the most deadly month for U.S. troops since the war began in 2001," said Smith. "For the families of the men and women who are being sent to Afghanistan, can you promise those families that the sacrifice of their loved ones is worth the fight?"
"If I didn't think that it was important for our national security to finish the job in Afghanistan, then I would pull them all out today," the president said. "Because I have to sign the letters to these families when a loved one is lost."
"That can be accomplished," he said. "We can stabilize Afghanistan sufficiently and we can get enough cooperation from Pakistan that we are not magnifying the threat against the homeland."
"As we end July it's the most deadly month for U.S. troops since the war began in 2001," said Smith. "For the families of the men and women who are being sent to Afghanistan, can you promise those families that the sacrifice of their loved ones is worth the fight?"
"If I didn't think that it was important for our national security to finish the job in Afghanistan, then I would pull them all out today," the president said. "Because I have to sign the letters to these families when a loved one is lost."
"If I didn't think that it was important for our national security to finish the job in Afghanistan, then I would pull them all out today," the president said. "Because I have to sign the letters to these families when a loved one is lost."
To date, neither ABC nor the White House has posted the transcript of his appearance on "The View," at least on the free Internet:
