Key Points Of Obama's Strategy For Afghanistan

President Obama said Tuesday his strategy in Afghanistan will have three objectives: deny al Qaeda a safe haven, reverse the Taliban's momentum and strengthen Afghanistan's security forces and government.

Here is how he said he plans to achieve the goals:

• Send 30,000 additional U.S. troops

The U.S. will send 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan in the next seven months "so that they can target the insurgency and secure key population centers," Obama said in his speech.

Some of the new troops will help train Afghan security forces to "create the conditions for the United States to transfer responsibility to the Afghans," Obama said.

U.S. forces could begin to leave as security responsibilities are transferred to the Afghans. Obama said he hopes to start transferring U.S. forces out of Afghanistan in July 2011.

The U.S. troop buildup also will help secure areas that go relatively uncovered by U.S. and NATO forces now. Most of the new troops are expected to be sent around the southern part of Afghanistan, divided between Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

Kandahar's one major city, also called Kandahar, is used by Taliban fighters and its leaders to hide within the population from coalition troops. One key task will be to control the major approaches to the city.

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Key Points Of Obama's Strategy For Afghanistan