Obama To Use Afghanistan Decision In Nobel Speech

President Barack Obama
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President Obama on Thursday will talk about his decision to send 30,000 more troops to fight the war in Afghanistan when accepting his Nobel Peace Prize.

A White House aide gave TPMDC a little preview of Obama’s speech in Oslo when he accepts the award the Nobel committee surprised the world with when granting it to the new president in October.

“The president will talk about what it means to receive a Nobel Peace Prize in the wake of his Afghanistan decision,” the aide said. “He will also focus on ways in which the international community can more effectively prevent needless conflict and promote peace across the globe.”

The speech comes in the week following Obama’s final decision of sending the surge of troops to Afghanistan, and as global climate negotiations kick off in Copenhagen.

What’s still to be determined is what Obama will do with the $1.4 million in prize money. As we have reported, Obama will give it to more than one charity but we don’t know much beyond that – yet.

Late Update: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about the speech in his afternoon briefing.

He said Obama “will address directly” the timing juxstaposition of him winning the award and sending more troops.

“That’s obviously something that he would address,” Gibbs said.

The reporter said Obama would be a “war president” getting the award, and Gibbs responded, “Exactly.”

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