Defense officials say Obama approves several thousand new troops for Afghanistan warDefense and congressional officials say President Barack Obama has approved an increase in U.S. forces for the flagging war in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is expected to announce on Tuesday or Wednesday that it will send one additional Army brigade and an unknown number of Marines to Afghanistan this spring. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the total is about 17,000 troops.
Defense and congressional officials say President Barack Obama has approved an increase in U.S. forces for the flagging war in Afghanistan. The Obama administration is expected to announce on Tuesday or Wednesday that it will send one additional Army brigade and an unknown number of Marines to Afghanistan this spring. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the total is about 17,000 troops.
Obama said in a statement released by the White House that he approved a request for the additional soldiers and Marines made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and military commanders. "This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires," Obama said in the statement. ... The U.S. has 37,000 troops in Afghanistan now. Army General David McKiernan, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, asked for as many as 30,000 more over the next year to beat back a renewed Taliban insurgency. Insurgent attacks in Afghanistan rose last year to the highest level since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. ... There are about 32,000 troops from other North Atlantic Treaty Organization members in Afghanistan, in addition to the U.S. forces. The U.S. is pressing NATO allies to add military and civilian resources there this year.
"This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires," Obama said in the statement. ...
The U.S. has 37,000 troops in Afghanistan now. Army General David McKiernan, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, asked for as many as 30,000 more over the next year to beat back a renewed Taliban insurgency. Insurgent attacks in Afghanistan rose last year to the highest level since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. ...
There are about 32,000 troops from other North Atlantic Treaty Organization members in Afghanistan, in addition to the U.S. forces. The U.S. is pressing NATO allies to add military and civilian resources there this year.
