Posted on 11/23/2009 8:13:54 PM PST by kristinn
President Barack Obama met Monday evening with his national security team to finalize a plan to dispatch some 34,000 additional U.S. troops over the next year to what he's called "a war of necessity" in Afghanistan, U.S. officials told McClatchy.
Obama is expected to announce his long-awaited decision on Dec. 1, followed by meetings on Capitol Hill aimed at winning congressional support amid opposition by some Democrats who are worried about the strain on the U.S. Treasury and whether Afghanistan has become a quagmire, the officials said.
The U.S. officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the issue publicly and because, one official said, the White House is incensed by leaks on its Afghanistan policy that didn't originate in the White House.
They said the commander of the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan, Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, could arrive in Washington as early as Sunday to participate in the rollout of the new plan, including testifying before Congress toward the end of next week. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry also are expected to appear before congressional committees.
As it now stands, the plan calls for the deployment over a nine-month period beginning in March of three Army brigades from the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., and the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., and a Marine brigade from Camp Lejeune, N.C., for as many as 23,000 additional combat and support troops.
In addition, a 7,000-strong division headquarters would be sent to take command of U.S.-led NATO forces in southern Afghanistan to which the U.S. has long been committed and 4,000 U.S. military trainers would be dispatched to help accelerate...
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
The Telegraph is reporting similar numbers.
3 months and he finally makes a decision. Does he want a cookie..Now he can go and have some more “Photo ops” with the Military that he “respects” so much
An exclusive bone is thrown to one state media outlet on the verge of bankruptcy.
yitbos
Three months of leaving our troops hanging, and then he doesn’t even give McChrystal what he needs. What a disgrace!
What about Rep Obey? He called for a war surtax to pay for any additional troops.
Sure he photo ops with live troops and dead ones too... He has no respect for our military .... none...
The U.S. officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the issue publicly and because, one official said, the White House is incensed by leaks on its Afghanistan policy that didn’t originate in the White House.
~~~~~~~~~
So they leak anyway .. ???? Jeesh ...!
There was already one false announcement that he’d decided, which the White House denied.
Democrat congressmen and senators have been saying that more troops will require more taxes, and that will certainly raise a lot of controversy.
Official announcement isn’t until December 1, if this isn’t repudiated.
And even if he does it, we still have the big question: What are the rules of engagement? Will these new troops be allowed to fight back if attacked? Will they have prompt air cover when they need it?
Wonder if he will tell McChrystal standing beside him is a great photo op!
And the stupid b***tard will have our guys fighting under rules of engagement requiring every trooper to call the f’ing White House before firing on the enemy.
Just gonna get more of our folks killed — for NOTHING.
He’s creating another Vietnam so the public will turn against the war, demand we pull out, the bad guys will recruit, regroup, resupply and be in our streets in a few years anyway.
Gee, why the rush Barry?
Obviously he was waiting for the Senate to vote on the initial round for healthcare. This way his base can be distracted.
He’s a scumbag.
They’re trying to lock him in to his decision before he gets wobbly again.
Is this the real thing, or another cowardly political trial balloon?
They could send 500,000 troops. If their rules of engagement tie our troops hands behind their backs, it won’t do a dammed bit of good. If they can’t fight to WIN, they should come home tomorrow.
We shall see...
Having scrutinized every piece of input from multiple sources, The Messiah, after much contemplation and meditation, as discerned the correct number of troops necessary for a successful mission.
yitbos
Another trial balloon.
He hates this country.
That’s rahm who leaks. He did under Clinton and he does now.
Armed, I'm sure, with wet spaghetti noodles. And rules of engagement that will allow the troops to use them at will...if every American within five miles has already been wiped out. If no civilians are within fifty miles, that is.
I laugh so I don't cry. My boy is almost certainly going to be among this number.
I'd like to see that figure - then subtract it from the 34,000 and we'll see how many MORE troops are actually going to be in country.
This is no surge.
He does not want to win this war. His sympathies are with the other side.
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