US President Barack Obama has issued orders to his US military commanders as he prepares to announce up to 34,000 additional US troops for Afghanistan in a revitalised war strategy against the Taliban. After months of deliberation, Mr Obama will announce today a US "exit strategy" that many in his own Democratic Party fear will mire the nation deeper in the eight-year conflict.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed yesterday the US President had "issued the orders" as commander-in-chief.
Today's announcement during a nationally televised broadcast will take US forces in Afghanistan to more than 100,000 -- the largest number since former president George W. Bush sent troops into the country after the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001. There are now 68,000 US troops committed to the Afghan war after Mr Obama deployed 21,000 extra soldiers earlier this year.
Mr Obama's decision follows a specially commissioned review of military operations by the US commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
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Today's military deployment is expected to go close to the main recommendation of General McChrystal that the US send a further 40,000 troops.
For months, the US President has wrestled with the conundrum of fighting what he calls a "necessary war" to stop Afghanistan again becoming a haven for al-Qa'ida terrorists harboured by the Taliban. His deliberations have been made difficult as US voters have increasingly turned against the war.
A majority no longer backs the war effort and questions the purpose of fighting. Much of Mr Obama's message today will be to persuade Americans that the US effort is needed to prevent a further terrorist attack, and that the President intends the renewed war effort as part of an "end game" that would result in the withdrawal of US forces.
Mr Gibbs yesterday said during a White House briefing: "This is not an open-ended commitment."
The troop boost has been made necessary by a serious deterioration in the US and allied military position over the past 12 months as the Taliban has regained control in many areas of the country. The US has also lost faith in its Afghan government partner, which has failed to train local forces.
Mr Obama has said he wants to hand his successor a clean slate in Afghanistan that would mean no further US military involvement and a transfer of authority to
the elected Afghan government.
Coinciding with the US troops boost, the President is also seeking at least 5000 additional troops from NATO forces.
In a meeting with Kevin Rudd yesterday, Mr Obama accepted that Australia's commitment of 1550 troops was sufficient after a further 450 was offered in April.
Britain would send an extra 500 troops to Afghanistan this month, tipping its deployment there over the 10,000 mark, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said yesterday.
Mr Brown said Britain's extra troops would be accompanied by new forces from at least eight other NATO allies.
"I can confirm that we will now move to a force level of 9500," Mr Brown told the House of Commons, adding that the total number of personnel in the area would be "in excess of 10,000 troops".
Reports yesterday said the US had asked France to provide a further 1500 troops.
Source:theaustralian.com.au
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