Big Moment
The President chose Eisenhower Hall at the military academy at West Point as the venue to make his case to increase troop strength in Afghanistan.
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In the Audience
The President made his address to room packed with cadets, among them many young men and women who will be called upon to carry out the strategy outlined in the speech.
Difficult Times
"If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan," Obama said, "I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow...I do not make this decision lightly."
Decorated
General David Petraeus, architect of the U.S. military strategy in Iraq, was among those in attendance.
VIPs
Sitting in the same row as Petraeus were, left to right: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gen. Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Sea of Gray
Though the President's immediate plan calls for a troop increase, he also said that his goal was to begin to transition U.S. forces out of Afghanistan by 2011.
Cadet
Obama suggested that he could bring the war to a "successful conclusion."
Stage View
The President spoke for 33 minutes.
Godspeed
After speaking, Obama stepped into the crowd to greet and shake hands with some of the cadets.
SOURCE: TIME Magazine
