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Obama Issues Orders for More Afghan Troops

Briefed military last night, will reveal number and other details tomorrow

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 30, 2009 2:20 PM CST
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(Newser) – After weeks of deliberation, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan and ordered the military to carry it out. The exact size of the troop escalation has not been announced, but sources put the number in the neighborhood of 30,000 more troops. The president started informing military leaders last night and will explain his plan in detail in a national speech tomorrow from the US Military Academy at West Point.

Obama plans to explain how he intends to pay for the intensified effort and how he will ultimately bring the troops home, press secretary Robert Gibbs said today, adding, "This is not an open-ended commitment.” Obama has been spending today asking America's allies for renewed support: Britain is expected to send 500 additional troops, while Hillary Clinton has asked Nicolas Sarkozy to commit an additional 1,500 French service members to the effort, the New York Times reports.

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Suntory Hall in Tokyo Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Suntory Hall in Tokyo Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
In this May 8, 2009, file photo President Barack Obama asks the audience to be seated during an unannounced visit to a Spanish-language town hall meeting in the White House complex in Washington.
In this May 8, 2009, file photo President Barack Obama asks the audience to be seated during an unannounced visit to a Spanish-language town hall meeting in the White House complex in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd waves as he leaves the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, after a meeting with President Barack Obama.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd waves as he leaves the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, after a meeting with President Barack Obama.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 35 comments
Fondue
Dec 1, 2009 12:24 PM CST
You may also want to ask Russia how well they did.
Derni
Dec 1, 2009 12:08 PM CST
I hope he sends them just to teach and train and then bring them m home and save lives and use the billions on our own needs..the wae hawks can get a new cause
GernnBlanston
Dec 1, 2009 4:36 AM CST
So in the absence of facts, you've imagined some to support your ever-so-facile claim that the president is a "loser?" Followed, naturally, by Newser's Nelson Muntz to factisize some more. Newser DESPERATELY needs to regulate its comment board.

 
Afghanistan • Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • terrorism • troop surge • United Kingdom • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • White House • secretary of State • British military • Britain • West Point • press secretary • French military • Obama administration • Robert Gibbs • President Obama • US Military Academy • Afghanistan troop surge

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