President Obama’s public statements on Afghanistan withdrawal, immigration, climate, and gun policy

remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan within the next year. But officials said the withdrawal would be weighted toward year’s end, leaving most of the troops to partner with Afghan troops for much of this year. The president said the United States would support democratic transitions in the Middle East, “keep the pressure on [the] Syrian regime” and “do what is necessary to prevent” Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon — but he offered no specifics. Mr. Obama pressed his case for reform of immigration laws and for action to slow global warming — and, in especially moving terms, tougher gun laws. In each case, there may be measures he can take through executive action, but new laws will be needed for substantial progress. Mr. Obama was right when he pointed to the survivors and grieving relatives of gun violence victims and insisted, “They deserve a vote.” Article 2. Foreign Policy The world is no longer America's problem Aaron David Miller HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_025044