Posted on 07/31/2009 5:43:46 AM PDT by Cheap_Hessian
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. general in charge of turning around the war in Afghanistan is likely to recommend significant changes to U.S. and NATO operations, military officials and others familiar with his forthcoming report said. Those changes could include additional U.S. troops despite political headwind against further expansion of the war.
As Gen. Stanley McChrystal readies his assessment of the war, due next month, numerous U.S. officials and outsiders apprised of his thinking suggest McChrystal will request more American troops, probably including Marines, to be added next year.
Officials and advisers spoke on condition of anonymity because the report is not complete, and because the number of forces to be requested is in flux. Several people familiar with the report cautioned that McChrystal could opt not to ask for an increase at all—a recognition that President Barack Obama and other White House advisers would not look favorably on adding new numbers to U.S. forces after already agreeing to boost their ranks by 21,000 troops earlier this year.
McChrystal's report contains a list of recommendations that have not been released, but military and defense officials have suggested that it will identify shortfalls in the size and skills of Afghan forces and recommend additional U.S. trainers or others to help.
...snip...
Biddle said Thursday he thinks the total number of troops in Afghanistan should number 300,000 to 600,000, including U.S., NATO and Afghan forces.
Current forces include 62,000 U.S. troops and 39,000 allied troops, plus about 175,000 Afghan Army and police. Some of the allies plan to pull their troops home in the next couple of years.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
This is upsetting. Service members in my extended family, back from two tours in Iraq will be going to Afghanistan.
I support our military, but I have reservations now because of Obama’s statement that we can’t have victory, we won’t be aiming for it.
Are my relatives going to be merely canon fodder?
Is Obama another McNamara? We went through one hideous nightmare of terrible civilian micromanaging that war.
This is OBAMA’s WAR!
I guess this is where Gen Jones forwards Obambi’s WTF to the troopers in Afghanistan - a real prince...
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