The White House Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 05, 2012

WEEKLY ADDRESS: A New Chapter in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, President Obama spoke about his recent trip to Afghanistan, where he met with our brave troops and signed an historic agreement that will help put an end to the war. The goal of defeating al Qaeda is within sight, we have killed Osama Bin Laden, and the President has now signed an agreement with Afghanistan that details a new relationship in which the Afghans will soon be responsible for the security of their nation. As we look towards that future, we must also focus on the type of nation our troops return to. This is why the President called on Congress to take the money we are no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half to rebuild America. Its time for America to make the choices that ensure a strong middle class where everyone a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.govat 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, May 5, 2012. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House May 5, 2012 This week, I traveled to Afghanistanto thank our troops serving far from home, and to sign an historic agreement that will help us complete our mission and end the war. As Commander-in-Chief, nothing is more humbling or inspiring than the chance to spend some time with our troops. At Bagram Air Base, I visited with some of our outstanding men and women in uniform. I thanked them for their extraordinary service. And I let them know that America honors their sacrifice.

Because of their bravery and dedication, the tide of war has turned in Afghanistan. We have broken the Talibans momentum. Weve built strong Afghan Security Forces. We have devastated al Qaedas leadership. And one year ago, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The goal that I set to defeat al Qaeda, and deny it a chance to rebuild is within reach. Because of the progress we have made, I was able to sign an historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation, and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states; a future in which the war ends, and a new chapter begins. The enormous sacrifices of our men and women in uniform are not over. But many of our troops are already coming home. Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014, the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country And this is as it should be. Because after more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation building here at home. As a new greatest generation returns from overseas, we must ask ourselves, what kind of country will they come back to? Will it be a country where a shrinking number of Americans do really well while a growing number barely get by? Or will it be a country where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules a country with opportunity worthy of the troops who protect us? America has answered this question before. My grandfather, a veteran of Pattons Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill. My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth. They contributed to a story of success that every American had the chance to share in, the basic American promise that if you work hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement. Keeping that promise alive is the defining issue of our time. But it means making responsible choices. I dont think we should prioritize things like more tax cuts for millionaires while cutting the kinds of investments that built a strong middle class. Thats why Ive called on Congress to take the money were no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half to rebuild America. Because weve got more jobs to create. More students to educate. More clean energy to generate. More entrepreneurs with the next great idea, just looking for their shot at success. Weve got to invest in things like education and medical research. Weve got to build newer,

faster transportation and communication networks. And weve got to secure the care and benefits our veterans have earned, so that we serve them as well as they have served us. Every time I have the privilege of meeting with our troops, Im struck by their courage, their commitment, their selflessness, and their teamwork. They have something to teach us. Recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is a work in progress but if we follow their example, then I have no doubt we will preserve the promise of this country, protect the freedoms we cherish, and leave for our children an America thats built to last. God bless you, and have a great weekend.

[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a START OF]

[ Old English e, earlier se < Indo-European]

The White House Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release May 05, 2012

[14th century. Via French < Latin secretus "separate, hidden" < secernere "separate apart" < cernere "to separate"]

1house \'has\ n, pl hous \'ha-zz also -sz\ often attrib, [ME es hous, fr. OE hs; akin to OHG hs house] (bef. 12c) 1 : a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families : home 2 a (1): a shelter or refuge (as a nest or den) of a wild animal (2): a natural covering (as a test or shell) that encloses and protects an animal or a colony of zooids b : a building in which something is housed a carriage ~ 3 a : one of the 12 equal sectors in which the celestial sphere is divided in astrology b : a zodiacal sign that is the seat of a planet's greatest influence

[ Old English m g, form of magan "be able" < Indo-European]

[ Old English wice < Germanic, "series, succession"]

WEEKLY ADDRESS: A New Chapter in Afghanistan [12th century. Via French chapitre < Latin
capitulum "small head" < caput "head"] [14th century. < Latin directus, past participle of dirigere "set straight, guide"]

WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, President Obama spoke about his recent trip to Afghanistan, where he met with our brave troops and signed an historic agreement that will help put an end to the war.
Stability in the Region is our main Concern.
[14th century. < Latin directus, past participle of dirigere "set straight, guide"]

When War becomes invisible what u see is what u kill And that is all you can do in a world filled with Madness as the Only Sacred Thing Left.

The goal of defeating al Qaeda is within sight, we have killed Osama Bin Laden, and the President has now signed an agreement with Afghanistan that details a new relationship in which the Afghans will soon be responsible for the security of their nation.
[15th century. < French relater "to report" < Latin relat-, past participle of referre "carry back" < ferre "carry"]

as [stressed, az unstressed, z] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word indicating simultaneity, causality, comparison, or the identity or function of somebody or something conjunction Once again, as I started my interview, the telephone rang. conjunction I'll drop the book off, as I'll be passing your house anyway. conjunction Here, take this pencil as it's sharper than yours. prep Data is stored on the disk as magnetic patterns. conjunction It is stored much as music is stored on an audiotape or cassette.
1. conjunction at time that: used to indicate that something happens at the same time as something else A woman stands near the water's edge as two large golden retrievers frolic in the river. 2. conjunction what: that which future, we must also focus Do as you like!

As we look towards that

on the type of nation our troops return to.

na tion \'n-shn\ n [ME nacioun, fr. AF naciun, fr. L nation-, natio birth, race, nation, fr. nasci to be born; akin to L gignere to beget more at kin] (14c) 1 a (1): nationality 5a (2): a politically organized nationality (3): a non-Jewish nationality why do the ~s conspire Ps 2:1 (RSV) b : a community of people composed of one or more nationalities and possessing a more or less defined territory and government c : a territorial division containing a body of people of one or more nationalities and usu. characterized by relatively large size and independent status

[15th century. < Latin congressus, past participle of congredi "go together" < gradi "proceed"]

This is why the President called on Congress to take the money we are no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half to rebuild America.
rebuild [ree bld] (past and past participle rebuilt present singular rebuilds) transitive verb

[ree b , lt]

present participle rebuilding, 3rd person

1. build structure again: to construct a building or other structure again because it has been damaged or destroyed 2. restore something: to work to restore something that has been weakened, damaged, or ruined rebuilt her confidence

[Early 16th century. < Americus, Latinized form of Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512), Italian navigator]

Its time for America to make the choices that ensure a strong middle class where everyone a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.
1same \'sm\ adj [ME, fr. ON samr; akin to OHG sama same, L simulis like, simul together, at the same time, similis like, sem- one, Gk homos same, hama together, hen-, heis one] (13c) 1 a : resembling in every relevant respect b : conforming in every respect used with as 2 a : being one without addition, change, or discontinuance : identical b : being the one under discussion or already referred to 3 : corresponding so closely as to be indistinguishable 4 : equal in size, shape, value, or importance usu. used with the or a demonstrative (as that, those) in all senses

[14th century. Via Old French adresser < assumed Vulgar Latin addrictiare "direct to" < Latin directus (see direct)]

The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.govat 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, May 5, 2012. on \'n-'ln, 'n-'ln\ adj (1950) : connected to, served line by, or available through a system and esp. a computer or telecommunications system (as the Internet) an ~ database ; also: done while connected to such a system ~ shopping online adv

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address The White House May 5, 2012 This week, I traveled to Afghanistanto thank our troops serving far from home, and to sign an historic agreement that will help us complete our mission and end the war. As Commander-in-Chief, nothing is more humbling or inspiring than the chance to spend some time with our troops. At Bagram Air Base, I visited with some of our outstanding men and women in uniform. I thanked them for their extraordinary service. And I let them know that America honors their sacrifice. Because of their bravery and dedication, the tide of war has turned in Afghanistan. We have broken the Talibans momentum. Weve built strong Afghan Security Forces. We have devastated al Qaedas leadership. And one year ago, our troops launched the operation that killed Osama bin Laden. The goal that I set to defeat al Qaeda, and deny it a chance to rebuild is within reach. Because of the progress we have made, I was able to sign an historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation, and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states; a future in which the war ends, and a new chapter begins. The enormous sacrifices of our men and women in uniform are not over. But many of our troops are already coming home. Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. As our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014, the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country And this is as it should be. Because after more than a decade of war, it is time to focus on nation building here at home. As a new greatest generation returns from overseas, we must ask ourselves, what kind of country will they come back to? Will it be a country where a shrinking number of Americans do really well while a growing number barely get by? Or will it be a country where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules a country with opportunity worthy of the troops who protect us?

America has answered this question before. My grandfather, a veteran of Pattons Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill. My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth. They contributed to a story of success that every American had the chance to share in, the basic American promise that if you work hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement. Keeping that promise alive is the defining issue of our time. But it means making responsible choices. I dont think we should prioritize things like more tax cuts for millionaires while cutting the kinds of investments that built a strong middle class. Thats why Ive called on Congress to take the money were no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the other half to rebuild America. Because weve got more jobs to create. More students to educate. More clean energy to generate. More entrepreneurs with the next great idea, just looking for their shot at success. Weve got to invest in things like education and medical research. Weve got to build newer, faster transportation and communication networks. And weve got to secure the care and benefits our veterans have earned, so that we serve them as well as they have served us. Every time I have the privilege of meeting with our troops, Im struck by their courage, their commitment, their selflessness, and their teamwork. They have something to teach us. Recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression is a work in progress but if we follow their example, then I have no doubt we will preserve the promise of this country, protect the freedoms we cherish, and leave for our children an America thats built to last. God bless you, and have a great weekend. [PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a END OF]