Official: Afghan buildup involves 30,000 troops

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/1/09 | Jennifer Loven and Anne Gearan - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan over six months, an accelerated timetable — with an endgame built in — that would have the first Marines there as early as Christmas, a senior administration official told The Associated Press.

With the full complement of new troops expected to be in Afghanistan by next summer, the heightened pace of Obama's military deployment in the 8-year-old war appears to mimic the 2007 troop surge in Iraq, a 20,000-strong force addition under former President George W. Bush. Similar in strategy to that mission, Obama's Afghan surge aims to reverse gains by Taliban insurgents and to secure population centers in the volatile south and east parts of the country.

In a prime-time speech to the nation Tuesday night from West Point that ends a 92-day review, Obama will seek to help sell his much bigger, costlier war plan by tying the escalation to an exit strategy, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

[NormsRevenge]

not 100 or 80 thousand as initially dreamed for by Generals on the ground.. or 50 or 40 which is what the General requested formally months ago.. nope now it’s 30. do I hear 20.. going once .. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

a swift surge?

how about a late and long delayed surge?

French soldiers observing Taliban positions near Deh Rawod in the south of Aghanistan in August 2009. President Barack Obama will Tuesday announce a swift surge of 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan within six months, but set a limit on the duration of their deployment, a US official said. (AFP/File/Pascal Guyot)

[NormsRevenge]

Graphic showing the breakdown of the main ISAF troops currently deployed in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama will announce a swift surge of 30,000 more US troops to Afghanistan within six months, but set a limit on the duration of their deployment, a US official has told AFP. (AFP/Graphic)

[tbpiper]

The Capon-in-Chief formally announces the Troop Spurt.

I would much rather the world hate us because our president is an unpredictable cowboy than laugh at us because our president is an entirely predictable wuss.

[NormsRevenge]

US President Barack Obama speaks in Washington, DC, on November 23. Obama has already ordered his new Afghan strategy into force, the White House said Monday, as the US leader informed world leaders of a plan expected to include a huge troop surge. (AFP/File/Saul Loeb)

[NMEwithin]

So Barry's "strategy" is the same as Bush's surge in Iraq...

You know..the surge he opposed and said would not work...

[depressed in 06]

The mahOgany hOwdy dOOdy is going to send 30,000 of our best troops to baby sit the Afghan national forces with a ROE making them as effective as the Germans. He will announce the surrender date, such, that the enemy will not have to expend resources to achieve victory.

[Scythian]

In related news, Michael Moore has been admitted to a hospital for chest pains and is being denied MacDonalds which he is ceaslessly demanding be covered in his health care plan ...

[FrankR]

The illegal alien in the white house is playing "Let's Make A Deal" with the Military.

Engaging in the very essence of "horse trading", using the lives of our military soldiers as the ante.

I'm betting that he is only sending 30,000 troops BECAUSE McCrystal asked for 40,000. Maybe the General should have requested 60,000, and maybe he would have gotten his 40,000.

While the rest of us see the logic, even those with little or no military experience, it is apparent that obama never even had a G.I. Joe doll. He probably spent his time with "Community Organizer Barbie" (or maybe a Larry Sinclair Doll).

He has taken around 100 days to come to a decision - an abridged by 10,000 troops decision, that should have been made in a week, tops...to support American troops engaged in war.

I am scratching my head these days wondering where he is going to find 30,000 troops in America...the way everyone is standing by watching this kenyan dismantle our country, it looks like most Americans are home hiding under their beds.

The streets in Washington should be CLOGGED with Americans fed up with this crap. Yet, we wait around for Glen Beck or Sean Hannity to throw a free concert and organize us for action. What happens then obama finds a way to silence these pundits, are we going to wander around like sheep waiting for another alpha ram?

Of the people, for the people, and by the people is the phrase...not of ralk radio, for talk radio and by talk radio. Are we saying to our kids, "Hey...people fought and died so we could have our freedom; so, we've had ours, screw you, you're on your own."? People gave their lives and their fortunes so we could enjoy a wonderful America, and we sat by watching oprah will the likes of obama pulled the plug.

So, tonight the kenyan is going on National television (gasp. surprise, surprise, surprise) to tell us some more lies, and try to justify why he has prolonged this decision putting more our sons and daughters lives in jeopardy to cover his political ass.

The lamestream media will again swoon at his suave and debonair oratory (telepromter reading) skills, and the rest of us will do something more exciting than watching him...like, er, digging doggie poop out of tennis shoe soles.

Meanwhile, immediate decisions are being made regarding the ramming of obamacare down our throats, and investigations of white house party crashers...you know, the "important things".

What was that advice Beck gave to his nephew, again?

[DoughtyOne]

need is 80,000
request is 40,000
provision is 30,000

I guess the Taliban do have their allies in important positions.

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

that would have the first Marines there as early as Christmas””

Hey Christmas in Afghanistan.

Sounds great Thanks Zero.

And thanks for the 30% of requested size surge too.

Either do it or don’t dumbhead. Don’t try to have it both ways.

[jrolfedrev]

No prisoners, no journalist allowed and no miranda...kill all the mofo’s....

[Munz]

Build up over several months, not nearly what the generals on the ground said was minimal immediately to actually win and save lives of Americans there.

Politics of the office I suppose, unless we look at it realistically, then we can call it treason against American interests.

[omega4179]

These reinforcements do not please me either. They are provided 60 days late, begrudgingly... by a Potus who really wants to lose the war BUT IS afraid to do what he really believes in. Liberal pundits are being FORCED support the policy as some kind of Bush cleanup operation rather than the GWOT to ensure another 9/11 does not happen.