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More U.S. Troops in Afghanistan?

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July 23, 2008 5:54 PM

ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: Two senior defense officials tell ABC News that more troops are expected to be directed to Afghanistan in the coming weeks to support what one official called "near-term '08 operations." 

How many additional troops?  Officials say it will be one or two battalions (there are about 750 troops in a battalion) and possibly more.

The troops in question include units to provide route clearance, helicopter airlift, bomb disposal, and other support.   

The request for additional troops comes from CENTCOM and has not been approved yet by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, although the officials expect the request will be soon be approved. 

The specific units to be diverted to Afghanistan are still to be identified.  Most of these troops are expected to come from units now deployed elsewhere in the world.  The Joint Staff has ordered the other regional commanders (Pacific Command, SOUTHCOM, etc.) to identify units that could be spared for Afghanistan.   Some could possibly come from Iraq or elsewhere in CENTCOM.

This flow of more troops is separate, and in addition to, the three brigades (10,000) combat troops and trainers that commanders have previously said they need.  That larger influx of troops to Afghanistan likely won't happen until after there are further drawdowns in Iraq.

July 23, 2008 in Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (81)

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texan---big surprise that someone from texas would be against obama wow!! your state is a disgrace to america for its backward ways you are all a bunch of knuckle dragging cave men.... soon we will be sendingback your village idiot after he destroyed this nation.

Posted by: tom | Jul 23, 2008 8:17:43 PM

Will someone remind me, just what the mission in Afghanistan is, again?

Posted by: foxisms | Jul 23, 2008 8:27:15 PM

the middle east has been at war for ---well since the begining of time and to think that our american military can do what no military has ever been able to do is just very arrogant. the bible the koran and even many non-religous books say there will never be peace in th eholy land so lets just leave them alone and let them kill each other who cares ---i know who cares rich oil barons want the oil taht is only reason bush is there check out zapata corp on wikipedia and fins out why bush wants to protect the oil.

Posted by: tom | Jul 23, 2008 8:31:20 PM

It seems that the Bush adminstration is taking cue from the Obama campaign these. I hope they will follow Mccain's useless ideas. Bush know that Mccain idea is useless and does not make sense.

Posted by: D.Johnson | Jul 23, 2008 8:34:31 PM

McCain was ignoring Afghanistan while it spiraled into chaos, so this development only serves to - again - help Obama. He's been getting scary good breaks lately...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | Jul 23, 2008 8:36:21 PM

d johnson--- mcsames ideas are just king georges ideas said then he adds my friend at the end. makes it sound like he cares.

Posted by: tom | Jul 23, 2008 8:36:52 PM

It was Clinton that paid Bin Laden to develop a terrorist army. I hate Bush but lets make certain that this Obama guy is what he says he is. Lets be sure that he has the values that America believes in.

Posted by: Newguy2008 | Jul 23, 2008 8:40:42 PM

cindy---obama cares enough to vote for veterans benefits that mccain voted against and bush was going to veto. obama cares enough to want to get bin laden and get you wonderful and honored troops home to your family and friends. we are so sorry that king george got so many of you killed so that cheney could get rich off haliburton and that bush could get rich off oil. you will get orders after jan 2009 to finish up get bin laden and get home.

Posted by: tom | Jul 23, 2008 8:47:57 PM

DDDDavis...it is apparent you have never been to a warzone and your spouts are emotionally rooted and uninformed. Wake Up...you know nothing of wars or battle tactics.

Posted by: roger king | Jul 23, 2008 9:00:12 PM

Im confused, Obama said no more war, he wants out within 16 months, Its one of his biggest campaign promises, promising to end the killing and all the money that we Americans are spending on this war, but didnt he just say the other day we now need to send soldiers into Afghanistan, how are we going to send them home in 16 months, if he now wants them to go into afghanistan.

Posted by: bete | Jul 23, 2008 9:20:17 PM

In about 100 days, this will all be overwith. Anyone who believes McBush will win the general election simply does not understand politics. I can't wait to blog the day after Obama is elected. This country will be blessed to have Obama as it's next president; someone competent enough to lead us out of this mess GW and the republicans have created. Fear, hatred, lying will not work this time. Americans are smarter than that. Good bye Bush/McBush, and the status quo...Hello CHANGE!

Posted by: dmac | Jul 23, 2008 9:21:47 PM

Both Obama and McCain are suck. One is too old, a hero-by-accident, the other is inexperienced but arrogant, and a would-be-president-in-training-cut-and-run-first.
Sorry for our great country, where are all the Superman, Batman, Spiderman?

Posted by: Lolita | Jul 23, 2008 9:35:31 PM

bete
perhaps you do not realize that we have troops in afganastan-----and yes that is where the terrorists have come from----iraq is and will always be known as bushes magnificient blunder---with an unbelievable loss of life and money----and the we stopped genocide is the biggest peck of crap ----no one will give a count of iraq men women and children killed-----it just may be worse than sadam .

Posted by: rodney | Jul 23, 2008 9:38:00 PM

There are more important things to worry about, read the book, The Great Controversy.
sonny

Posted by: sonny | Jul 23, 2008 9:43:29 PM

mccain and his bomb bomb iran attitude just might be one of those who bombed villages in nam---women and children are tough fighters---- you know----there is something being hidden in his military records.....

Posted by: rodney | Jul 23, 2008 9:46:01 PM

There is no need to attempt to rationalize with irrational republicans. They are willing to sacrifice the livelihood of their own children, grandchildren, neices, nephews, etc..for the sake of party loyalty and blind ignorance. If you can't objectively see that Obama is the best of the two choices for President, you ought not be allowed to vote. Imagine what life was like almost 8-years ago...can you remember the good ole days? Now, fast forward....in every possible category, America is worse off. So, you want more? Vote McBush and he will finish what GW started.

Posted by: dmac | Jul 23, 2008 9:48:10 PM

Davis you are a joke: BO has disdain for troops and gives them their due purely for their votes. Too bad you are blind to that fact.
(Retired) SGM, USA.

Posted by: rey | Jul 23, 2008 9:49:25 PM

Rodney I do understand that we need to be in Afghaniston, but what I am saying is Obama's campaign for the last year is he was getting us out of war, so that 1. are men can come home and 2. We can stop spending all this money on the war, yet now he is overseas and saying we need to send more men into Afghaniston. But when McCain talks about these issues he seems to get mocked out all the time. Boy I can remember last Jan, Feb, Mar Obama standing so tall saying McCain wants to keep this war going, We need to get our boys home..... guess he is changing his mind....

Posted by: bete | Jul 23, 2008 9:52:07 PM

McCain and other Senators authored & crafted their version the GI Bill that added many benefits to family members to use for college. Davis you know not of what you speak you dam dumbodem fool.
SGM, USA (retired)

Posted by: rey | Jul 23, 2008 9:53:06 PM

dont know how true it is but i have hint that the largest military base on earth is being constructed on the border of iraq and iran----i dont think it would be a vacation village---nothing surprises me with the bush mcbush repubs.

Posted by: rodney | Jul 23, 2008 9:53:27 PM

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