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

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Obama Eyes 30K+ Troop Surge

Said to be close to decision as Asia trip looms

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2009 9:18 AM CST

(Newser) – President Obama is zeroing in on an Afghanistan strategy that likely includes sending in some 30,000 troops, reports Reuters—short of Gen. Stanley McChrystal's requested 40,000, but far greater than war-weary Democrats may support. An additional 4,000 trainers are likely to be sent, McClatchy reports, with the first troops hitting the ground in March.

The president begins a weeklong Asian tour Thursday, and is expected to delay an announcement until he consults with key allies, sources say. The delay also gives the administration more time to continue cracking the whip on corruption under Hamid Karzai, as well as shore up support at home. "This is not going to be an easy sell, especially with the fight over health care and the (Democratic) party's losses" in New Jersey and Virginia, says one official.

President Obama salutes as a carry team carries the transfer case of Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin of Terre Haute, Ind., who died in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

A military helicopter hovers above a refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

An Oct. 2, 2009 file photo shows President Obama meeting with Gen. Stanley McChrystal aboard Air Force One in Copenhagen, Denmark. (AP Photo/White House, Pete Souza/FILE)

President Obama and others participate in the transfer for Army Sgt. Dale Griffin of Terre Haute, Ind., who died in Afghanistan, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 22 comments

drlarrymitchell

Nov 11, 2009 5:35 AM CST

If Obama goes through with this, his chances of being only a one-term president rise from 23% to a whopping 67%. These are Fox-y stats, mind you- I pulled them out of my ass.

bewilderbeast

Nov 9, 2009 10:23 AM CST

I agree with prowler (and I forgive his ranting because blogging is like the little rant you have in your head, but while typing) that progressives are mistaken if they think they are not prone to blindly supporting the man, rather than his querying his actions. They accused Bushies of blindly following, but they're going thru a phase here of "if it's Obama it must be right". NOT SO. Whoever asked "The Nobel Peace Prize winner is SURGING! How ironic is THAT?" is quite correct to ask it.

bewilderbeast

Nov 9, 2009 9:42 AM CST

@freemall, you're missing that he's getting deeper into a war that YOU WILL LOSE. Plus the fact that he's probably doing it at the behest of corporate war-mongers who profit every time someone dies (American or not).

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Reuters (Source Grid »)
McClatchy Newspapers (Source Grid »)

Politics • US • World

Afghanistan • troop surge • Hamid Karzai • US troops • Afghanistan war • President Obama • Stanley McChrystal

More Newser Stories

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

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

(NEWSER) - Newly qualified Apache helicopter pilot Prince Harry is expected to return to Afghanistan for a tour of duty this year, and the people he might be shooting at aren't happy about it. "A prince should use his position to help people, not to come and kill people around the world," a Taliban spokesman tells the Telegraph . Harry, whose training included a stint in the US , is expected to serve as a co-pilot gunner in a two-man crew. More»

US Drones Return to Hit Rescuers, Funerals

Strikes occurring every 4 days under Obama: report

(NEWSER) - A few days back, President Obama said that US drone attacks in Pakistan had "not caused a huge number of civilian casualties." But a Bureau of Investigative Journalism report finds that somewhere between 282 and 535 civilians, including 60 children, have been "credibly reported" killed in the campaign. Secondary strikes target groups of rescuers shortly after attacks, while other drones have killed dozens at funerals. Obama has drastically escalated the drone program; some 260 strikes have occurred an average of once every four days under his administration. More»

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Focus to be on training, special missions, not policing

(NEWSER) - The United States may be wrapping up its combat operations in Afghanistan a year early, but the fight against insurgents and terrorists will continue in the form of US special forces, who are expected to stay in the country well after 2014, reports the New York Times . According to the Pentagon's plan, which has not yet been greenlighted by President Obama, conventional forces would be the first to withdraw from Afghanistan, but thousands of special forces would continue, or perhaps grow, especially Green Berets. More»

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

More than 3K killed, mostly by Taliban

(NEWSER) - Last year was the worst for violence against Afghan civilians since the UN started keeping track five years ago, with 3,021 killed, according to the AP . The UN report attributed the 8% rise in civilian killings to a surge in roadside bombs and suicide attacks by insurgents, with Taliban-affiliated militants responsible for more than 75% of those killings. It is the fifth straight year that the civilian death toll has gone up, and last year that number was nearly twice as high as in 2007. More»

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013

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

(NEWSER) - At some point next year, the US will no longer be fighting a war in Afghanistan for the first time in a decade. "Hopefully by mid to the latter part of 2013 we’ll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a training, advise, and assist role,” defense chief Leon Panetta told reporters today. That applies to NATO troops as well, and it's the first time the Obama administration has put a date on it, reports the New York Times and Washington Post . 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

Obama Eyes 30K+ Troop Surge

Said to be close to decision as Asia trip looms

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • troop surge • Hamid Karzai • US troops • Afghanistan war • President Obama • Stanley McChrystal

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 Drones Return to Hit Rescuers, Funerals

Strikes occurring every 4 days under Obama: report

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

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Obama Eyes 30K+ Troop Surge

Said to be close to decision as Asia trip looms

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Afghanistan • troop surge • Hamid Karzai • US troops • Afghanistan war • President Obama • Stanley McChrystal

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 Drones Return to Hit Rescuers, Funerals

Strikes occurring every 4 days under Obama: report

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

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?