first major military move, President Barack Obama supported deployment of 17,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan, Obama said in a statement: "There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed forces in harm way," he says, that "I now know that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan requires immediate attention and quick action. "adds Obama said in the deployment order was in response to months-old request from the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, who had asked for 30,000 more soldiers.
A US Army soldier stands in a doorway of an Afghan home in the rugged Spira mountains in Khost provincev
"To meet urgent needs for security," Obama said. He had approved a request from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to deploy a Marine expeditionary force brigade in the spring, and an Army Stryker brigade and support forces later this summer. The White House has told us about 17,000 soldiers will be deployed to Afghanistan before the Afghan elections scheduled for 20 August essential to build the 38,000 U.S. forces already on the ground fighting a growing insurgency. Asked about possible future use of troops orders, a senior administration official told AFP would not comment until an ongoing comprehensive review of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan was completed.As security situation in Iraq has improved, the United States have increasingly moved their focus to the insurgency in Afghanistan and reduced the number of its troops in Iraq. Last year was deadly Taliban violence, including suicide attacks, assassination of officials and ambushes on Afghan and international troops.
US soldiers search a suspected terrorists' cache during a cave clearing operation
"The strategy must complete in order to determine whether the extra troops would be necessary," the official added, saying that the goal was for the review to be completed before the NATO summit in April. United States-supported government in Kabul has come under intense pressure as an insurgency led by Taliban and Al-Qadea Islamic militants has been to strengthen and spread from eastern and southern parts of the west and areas around the capital Kabul. A significant change in course is long overdue, "he said. U.S. intelligence agencies have warned that endemic corruption in Afghanistan and the government's inability to provide services and protect the population has undermined its legitimacy.
Obama warned that "the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan and Al Qaeda insurgents and support the true America of safe haven along the Pakistan border", "This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not had the strategic sense, the direction and resources, it is absolutely necessary. " Gates said the Pentagon had ordered deployment of two additional combat units total more than 12,000 troops, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman indicating they will be deployed in violence-plagued south. Another 5000-some support troops were to receive deployment orders at a later date "to support the combat forces." Under the order, some 8,000 Marines from 2 Marine expeditionary force brigade will deploy to Afghanistan in the late spring of 2009, and around 4,000 soldiers from the Stryker brigade 5, 2 infantry companies companies Division will deploy in mid-summer 2009, the Pentagon said.
US soldiers search a house for Taliban insurgents
Obama: Afghanistan a 'challenge' (02/09/09)
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