President promises public support if troops are sent off

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AP) — Nearing a decision on sending more troops off to war, President Barack Obama told a military audience Thursday that he will not dispatch them into conflict without proper support — including the backing of the American people.

“That is a promise that I make to you,” Obama told more than 1,000 troops and their families gathered at a hangar here, as the president stopped briefly for refueling en route to a four-country trip to Asia.

The president made no direct mention of Afghanistan or his weeks-long review, now nearing completion, of how to revamp the struggling war effort there. Obama is expected to send in thousands more troops.

Facing a daunting array of Asian challenges, Obama was on his first major trip to the region, where a surging China and newly assertive Japan are chipping away at America’s standing on diplomacy and trade.

At home in recent days, from a somber memorial for the 13 people shot to death at Fort Hood in Texas to a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Obama has lauded the determination of the all-volunteer military.

But his assurance Thursday about public support was new, and it was unclear how he would rally it.

An Associated Press-GfK poll this week showed that 48 percent of people disapprove of Obama’s handling of Afghanistan, up from 41 percent in October. More than half of all Americans — 54 percent — now oppose sending more troops to Afghanistan, an increase from 50 percent last month.

“I want you guys to understand that I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people and our vital interests,” Obama told the troops. “But I also make you this promise: I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America’s vital interests.”

“And if it is necessary,” Obama added, “the United States of America will have your back. We’ll give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We’ll give you the equipment and support you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home.”

Already the most-traveled first-year president ever, Obama took off for Tokyo on an Asian journey that will add four countries — Japan, China, Singapore and South Korea — to the 16 he’s already visited. The trip also will highlight a dramatically changing continent.

Obama was arriving in Japan a day later than planned, his schedule scrambled by Tuesday’s memorial for the shooting victims at Fort Hood. His stop in Singapore for the annual Asia-Pacific economic summit, originally scheduled for two days, was cut back to a mere 20 hours.

Awaiting Obama in Japan was a new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, who swept to power vowing a more-equal partnership with Washington. Hatoyama also has promised to halt Japan’s refueling of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, review its basing agreement for 47,000 U.S. troops and explore the possibility of a new Asian trading bloc excluding the United States.

In a pre-trip talk with Japan’s NHK network, Obama acknowledged Hatoyama’s election as a “political earthquake” but played down any friction. “This is not a senior-versus-junior partnership,” he said. “This is one of equals in which Japan has been an extraordinary contributor.”

Obama was scheduled to meet with Hatoyama and conduct a news conference almost immediately after arriving so the Japanese leader could quickly fly off to Singapore. Obama planned to arrive at the summit late Saturday night.