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Obama on Afghanistan: "This Is a War of Necessity"
President says war in Afghanistan will not be easy or quick
Monday, Aug 17, 2009 | Updated 1:53 PM EDT
AP
President Obama salutes after stepping off Air Force One in Phoenix.
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President Barack Obama said today the war in Afghanistan will not be easy or quick -- but it is one worth fighting.
"This is not a war of choice," Obama said. "This is a war of necessity. ... This is not only a war worth fighting. This is fundamental to the defense of our people."
Speaking at a gathering of veterans in Arizona, Obama took a break from his health care pitch Monday to thank America's veterans and praise troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He vowed better healthcare for veterans and ripped into wasteful spending in the defense budget
"If Congress sends me a defense bill loaded with that kind of waste, I will veto it," he said.
Get More: AP, Washington Post
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