Q: Mr. Gibbs, good morning. Why did it take so long to make this decision?
GIBBS: Well look, Harry, I think that what's been done in this process is somewhat unprecedented on the issue of Afghanistan. I think everybody involved really worked hard with the President to make policy better than it would have been had we announced it after only a week. I think everybody involved made this policy stronger. And I think the American people can be proud of both the process and the decision that the President will announce tonight.
[...]
Q: Al Qaida really isn't much of a presence in Afghanistan anymore anyhow, so why not chase them into Pakistan or into the Horn of Africa?
GIBBS: Well, look. I think this Administration has taken the fight to Al Qaida unlike any that we've ever seen.