by Mark Silva
With President Barack Obama insisting that the war in Afghanistan is "winnable'' - an assertion similar to that which former President George W. Bush made of the war in Iraq - the new president's own surge of U.S. military force will start later this year.
The Pentgaon says that the deployment of two additional combat units, totaling more than 12,000 troops plus 5,000 support personnel, will begin late in the Spring. The Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade from Camp LeJeune, N.C. with about 8,000 Marines will deploy to Afghanistan in late Spring , and the Fifth Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Ft. Lewis, Wash., will deploy about 4,000 soldiers to Afghanistan in mid-summer. About 5,000 added troops to support these forces will receive orders later.
"The administration, as you all know, has started a 60-day review of our policy in the region,'' Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said aboard Air Force One en route to Phoenix.
"The situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating for quite some time,'' Gibbs said. "And in order to stem that, the president has ordered the additional troops.
"That does not prejudge the outcome of the review process, but allows us instead to -- allows us instead to meet an urgent need for more troops in a deteriorating security situation in advance of the traditional Taliban offensives in the spring, and also leading up to ensuring secure elections later in the year,'' he said.
Comments
Glad to see Obama finally taking a "surge" position. Guess it didn't work in Iraq. Big mistake here, but there is a bright side; the Dems. now have a war of their own and we can now have positive coverage of the Afghan conflict and our brave soldiers without the lefty MSM bias and Reid, Pelosi, and the Cindy's of the lefties will become the new war mongers. Jeez, amazing what an election can do to for altering ones values. Yes sir, a war we can believe in!
Posted by: Bubba Porter | February 18, 2009 9:32 AM
Back to the Champaign before the election
CHANGE = Return The Troops
Present CHANGE=Send the Troops
Posted by: Inky | February 18, 2009 9:38 AM
Sure Bubba Porter; he's following the advice of the commander of the SecDef, Gates, a Republican. You make no sense Bubba; it's a war we've been in since 2001. Do you really want Osama bin Laden running around on the loose?
Posted by: Flo | February 18, 2009 10:35 AM
Bubba Porter.....Afghanistan would have resolved already had you and the republican administration had not taken your eye off of the real war on terror by your ill concieved, ill planned disaster in Iraq. You certainly have the reverse King Midas touch. Can you do anything right? Spot on about "positive" coverage on Afghanistan....there certainly has been so much good to speak of. Sheeeeeeez!!!!!
Posted by: bill r. | February 18, 2009 10:35 AM
With President Obama's signature on economic recovery legislation, America made the largest investment for the energy independence in the history. Now America need to build on this momentum, should not waste time and efforts for the failed,defeated old idea, otherwise people and investors in the world will be confused by this unclear position.
The car companies like the financial system are in the emergency room, meanwhile, the issue of additional troops into Afghanistan is brought up again, just like the end of last year. I think this coincident indicates that the military costs need to be appropriated to the rescue of the reeling companies. The failure in the car builders can severely affect the ambitious stimulus project that is intended for job creation. In my mind, oil may not be worth innocent lives or fate of a nation any longer as the entire world takes a bold step forward energy Independence. Just as the condition in Iraq got better through the progress of energy liberty, so the one in Afghanistan will follow the rule, I suppose.
Thanks !
Posted by: hsr0601 | February 18, 2009 11:56 AM
I'm waiting for somebody to say "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel in Afghanistan" in about 4 or 5 years.
Posted by: MJ | February 18, 2009 1:18 PM
Billy R.,
.
We wouldn't even need to be in Iraq nor Afghanistan if Clinton hadn't punted the bin Laden ball down the road countless number of times.
Posted by: Terry | February 18, 2009 7:52 PM
Terry is into the blame the economy on Clinton (and the CRA and Frank and Dodd), blame Afghanistan on Clinton kool aid. Such a stupid dittohead.
Posted by: mort | February 18, 2009 10:16 PM
Mort,
.
Once again, you have no facts to refute the point.
.
How many chances to Clinton have to catch bin Laden?
.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a55_1187399013
.
Posted by: Terry | February 19, 2009 6:41 AM