Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Brown Hints He'd Nix Obama Plea for Troops

Time for other nations to step up in Afghanistan, warns prime minister

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Dec 15, 2008 2:44 AM CST

(Newser) – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hinted that Britain would defy a request by Barack Obama to send 2,000 more troops to Afghanistan, the Times of London reports. After hearing of bleak progress there against the resurging Taliban, Brown warned that other nations will have to shoulder further deployments. Brown faces a strained budget and public outcry against increasing casualties in the drawn-out conflict.

"We're at the max of what Britain can do in the world," said a British official. Brown's message may be an early warning to Obama not to publicly pressure the UK and avoid embarrassment. British and US military officials on the ground are clamoring for reinforcements. Obama is expected to boost American presence in areas now dominated by British troops.

Brown and Afghan President Hamid Karzai inspect the honor guard in Kabul yesterday. (AP Photo/Ahmad Masood, Pool)

Brown addresses the troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province yesterday. (AP Photo / Lewis Whyld)

Brown meets troops during his recent trip to Afghanistan. (AP Photo / Lewis Whyld)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Obama Throws Away Civil Liberties With Defense Bill

President to sign bill allowing indefinite detention of Americans

(NEWSER) - President Obama is taking a lot of heat today for dropping his threat to veto a controversial defense bill that could allow the military to capture and indefinitely detain American citizens on US soil. In a fiery editorial, the New York Times today called it "a complete political cave-in, one that reinforces the impression of a fumbling presidency," saying it had too many objectionable parts to name. Other criticism has included: More»

Angry Pakistan Orders US to Vacate Air Base

Pakistan furious over killings, violation of sovereignty

(NEWSER) - Pakistan reacted to a NATO airstrike that killed up to 28 Pakistani soldiers today by telling the US to evacuate an air base it uses to stage military operations, MSNBC reports. Fuming over the violation of sovereignty, Pakistan also halted convoys of fuel and equipment headed to NATO bases in Afghanistan, reports the Telegraph . Pakistani officials also plan to review all of their cooperation with NATO and the US, the BBC reports. In another development, a Western official said the NATO aircraft were fired on first and reacted in self-defense—a claim the Pakistani military denies, reports the Guardian . More»

Afghan 'Snuff Films' Degrading British Troops

But military says films shown to inform troops and help morale

(NEWSER) - It's not exactly must-see TV. British troops in Afghanistan have been watching "Kill TV," featuring gruesome footage of helicopter attacks cutting down people, reports the Independent . The revelation comes from a documentary soon to air on British television. In one video, an Afghan woman is referred to as a "snake with tits"; in another a pilot says mockingly, "Goodnight princess," as a missile hits a woman. The military says the footage is shown to inform soldiers about what's happening and to improve morale. But anti-war activists say the videos are "snuff" films that degrade the troops and are a sign of the failure of the war in Afghanistan. More»

US to Build Huge New Prison in Afghanistan

And never mind prison overcrowding at home

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration is supposedly determined to cut hundreds of billions in spending, so it struck Glenn Greenwald of Salon as ironic when he noticed that the military last week started soliciting bids for the construction of a massive prison in Bagram, Afghanistan. The facility is to hold approximately 2,000 detainees, and cost between $25 million and $100 million. Never mind, Greenwald notes with disgust, that “in the US prisons are so wildly overcrowded that courts are ordering them to release inmates en masse.” More»

72% Support Obama's Afghanistan Pullout

Even a majority of Republicans back the withdrawal

(NEWSER) - Americans overwhelmingly President Obama's plan to pull out of Afghanistan says a new Gallup Poll , with 72% in favor and only 23% opposed. For Democrats, that rises to 87%, but even Republicans support it, with 50% for it versus 43% opposed. More specifically, Obama's plan to withdraw 30,000 troops over the next 15 months was called "just right" by 43% of respondents, with 19% thinking that number was too high and 29% thinking it was too low. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Brown Hints He'd Nix Obama Plea for Troops

Time for other nations to step up in Afghanistan, warns prime minister

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • War on Terror • Barack Obama • troop surge • Gordon Brown • British troops • Britain

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama Throws Away Civil Liberties With Defense Bill

President to sign bill allowing indefinite detention of Americans

Angry Pakistan Orders US to Vacate Air Base

Pakistan furious over killings, violation of sovereignty

Afghan 'Snuff Films' Degrading British Troops

But military says films shown to inform troops and help morale

US to Build Huge New Prison in Afghanistan

And never mind prison overcrowding at home

72% Support Obama's Afghanistan Pullout

Even a majority of Republicans back the withdrawal

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Brown Hints He'd Nix Obama Plea for Troops

Time for other nations to step up in Afghanistan, warns prime minister

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • War on Terror • Barack Obama • troop surge • Gordon Brown • British troops • Britain

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama Throws Away Civil Liberties With Defense Bill

President to sign bill allowing indefinite detention of Americans

Angry Pakistan Orders US to Vacate Air Base

Pakistan furious over killings, violation of sovereignty

Afghan 'Snuff Films' Degrading British Troops

But military says films shown to inform troops and help morale

US to Build Huge New Prison in Afghanistan

And never mind prison overcrowding at home

72% Support Obama's Afghanistan Pullout

Even a majority of Republicans back the withdrawal

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?