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US Deploys 13,000 Extra Troops to Afghanistan
 [Quqnoos] US President dispatches an extra 13,000 troops to Afghanistan beyond the 21,000 he announced in March, The Washington Post reportedThe extra forces are mainly support forces -- such as engineers, medical personnel, intelligence experts and military police -- the Post added. The number brings the total of US troops Barack Obama has approved since he took office in January to 34,000. Obama authorised the whole thing. The only thing you saw announced in a press release was the 21,000, The post quoted a defense official familiar with the troop-approval process as saying. The report comes as President Obama mulls over further reinforcement of troops on the ground. His top commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, has reportedly requested more 40,000 forces. But the newspaper noted that the maximum number of US service members expected in Afghanistan by years end -- 68,000 -- would remain the same. Some 65,000 US forces are currently in Afghanistan and nearly 40,000 from other NATO allies, including Britain, Germany and Canada. Posted by: Fred 2009-10-14 |
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