US President Barack Obama is to make a globally-awaited address later on his new Afghan war plan and big troop surge strategy.
Huge military and diplomatic stakes, a grave warning by the US commander that the war could be lost, and his own increasingly vulnerable political position demand a bravura performance after months of deliberations.
In the televised address at 8pm (1am Irish time, Wednesday), Mr Obama is expected to announce deployments of up to 35,000 more troops to battle the resurgent Taliban, al-Qaeda and to secure Afghan cities, along with a civilian aid surge.
Mr Obama must rebrand the eight-year war for a divided nation dismayed by rising US combat deaths, and robbed of its swagger by huge unemployment, tight family budgets and soaring fiscal deficits.
He needs to convince sceptics fearing a Vietnam-style quagmire, that a plan to boost troop numbers to 100,000 can fashion a victory of sorts and a path home for US forces sent to war after the 11 September attacks in 2001.
Opinion polls show sliding public support for the war, with more than 900 US soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Mr Obama has spent months wrestling with a decision some backers fear could scupper the promise of a reforming presidency. Aides say he will never forget a wrenching trip to a Delaware air base to honour the return of fallen soldiers.
The speech at the US Military Academy at West Point, which will also freshen US strategy of Pakistan, will be closely watched by foreign governments weighing US intent.
Mr Obama is also likely to warn often sceptical NATO allies the fight is theirs too, and request more foreign troops.
Top advisors said Mr Obama will tell Afghanistan and Pakistan that the US cannot stay for ever, but also offer an almost contradictory assurance that Washington will not abandon them.
