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Britain to Send 500 More Troops to Afghanistan

Expects other NATO countries to follow suit

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2009 7:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – Britain will send 500 more troops to Afghanistan, Gordon Brown is expected to announce today, defying calls to reduce Britain’s presence there. The men will come with strings attached, however: “The prime minister will want assurances from military chiefs that the extra troops will be properly equipped,” a BBC correspondent said. “He’ll also expect Britain’s NATO partners to follow suit.”

The move is “quite a bold decision,” says one former commander in Afghanistan, where Britain already has 9,000 troops, mostly in the southern province of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold. But he added that “We probably do need more than that.” Conservative leader David Cameron also backs sending more troops, while Liberal Democrats are calling for a “political surge” instead.

This British Ministry of Defense photograph made available Sunday Aug. 16, 2009 shows British troops in Sangin, Helmand Province in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/MOD HANDOUT/SGT Dan Harmer RLC.)

In this Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009 file photo, a WMIK Landrover and a Jackel provide protection to a Combat Logistic Patrol in the streets of Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/MOD HANDOUT/SGT Dan Harmer RLC.)

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown greets United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, Sunday Oct 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Oli Scarff, pool))

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, right, is greeted by Gen. Stanley McChrystal at Camp Bastion in Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Stefan Rousseau/PA)

In this image from the Ministry of Defence in London, Thursday July 16, 2009, children joke with British soldiers on a patrol in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Monday July 13, 2009. (AP Photo/Sergeant Dan Harmer, Royal Logistic Corps, MOD, ho)

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Britain to Send 500 More Troops to Afghanistan

Expects other NATO countries to follow suit

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Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

Backed By Pakistan, Taliban Set to Retake Afghanistan

ISI providing direct assistance, says secret NATO report viewed by the BBC

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Britain to Send 500 More Troops to Afghanistan

Expects other NATO countries to follow suit

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • Gordon Brown • Britain • troop levels • Helmand province • Afghanistan war

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

'Captain Wales' to return to Afghanistan this year; he'll be Taliban target

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

But American, NATO troops will still have 'robust' advisory role

Backed By Pakistan, Taliban Set to Retake Afghanistan

ISI providing direct assistance, says secret NATO report viewed by the BBC

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?