Obama to Address Nation on Afghanistan

Even before taking his battle plan to Americans tonight, President Obama has issued the orders: some 34-thousand troops will deploy to Afghanistan starting next month.

The broad post 9-11 goal is unchanged. Representative Tom Price of Georgia, said, "The mission is to degrade the ability of al Qaeda to threaten the American people again."

The president spoke directly to General Stanley McChrystal, then yesterday laid out his plan to leaders of Britain, France and Russia.

The hard-sell for a NATO build-up is on. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, “We have been with America for a long time in Afghanistan." Aides say tonight the President will talk limits, even a drawdown of troops in 2013.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "This is not an open-ended commitment." What Afghan partners? Asks Vice-President Joe Biden, who like many Democrats, and polls show Americans, opposes the President's build-up.

Political Analyst Charlie Cook said, "He's got to address their concerns. 'Trust me, I've got a plan, we're dealing with this, we're going to do this." Even supporters of the Obama path say time is short. Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey said, "The next election is really the deadline. So, there's thirty-six months to show substantial change in the ground situation." Something eight years has not accomplished.