The United States is preparing to send between 20,000 and 30,000 additional troops into southern Afghanistan by the spring of 2009.ABC News: Afghanistan Could See 30,000 New Troops (December 20, 2008)VOA News: Pentagon Confirms Raports More US Forces to Be Sent to Afghan... (December 22, 2008)
On April 4, 2009, NATO allies in Afghanistan committed an additional 5,000 troops to fight the Taliban, while 3,000 troops from allied nations will provide security as the country's elections approach.FOXNews.com: NATO Protesters Set Fire to Buildings, Clash With Police (April 4, 2009)
Deployment Approval
On February 17, 2009, President Obama approved the deployment of 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. The deployment was requested by Gates.Al Jazeera English: More US Troops Set for Afghanistan (February 19, 2009)
New Construction
The surge in troops is intended to help the 12,000 NATO troops who are trying to cope with the Taliban's increasing violence and control of the region. The Army Corps of Engineers will spend $1.3 billion in new construction including new runways at the Kandahar Air Field and new housing.FOXNews.com: U.S. Readying Afghan Surge Against Taliban (January 2, 2009)
Obama Afghan Troop Surge
President Elect Barack Obama said he "make the investments necessary to strengthen our military and increase our ground forces" in Afghanistan when he introduced his national security team on December 1, 2008ABC News: Afghanistan Could See 30,000 New Troops (December 20, 2008)
March 2009
On March 27, 2009, President Barack Obama announced a new strategy that would defeat Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The plan includes the movement of 4,000 troops to the region in the spring of 2009. In addition, he urged Congress to approve $1.5 billion in aid (a year) for Pakistan for the next five years. In February 2009 Obama announced that 17,000 troops would deploy to Afghanistan; the additional 4,000 troops would help train Afghan security forces.FOXNews.com: Obama Calls for New Strategy to 'Dismantle' Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan (March 27, 2009)
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
President Obama authorized the deployment of 17,000 troops to Afghanistan on February 17, 2009Al Jazeera English: More US Troops Set for Afghanistan (February 19, 2009)
-
Fact:
The 17,000 will include an army brigade, marines and support staffAl Jazeera English: More US Troops Set for Afghanistan (February 19, 2009)
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Analysts say there could be up to as many as 60,000 troops after the troop surgeAl Jazeera English: More US Troops Set for Afghanistan (February 19, 2009)
-
Fact:
Some analysts say the troop surge would be counterproductive, allowing President Hamid Karzai to rely on outsiders to defeat the TalibanBloomberg.com: Obama's Afghan Troop-Surge Plan May Prove Too Much... (December 24, 2008)
-
Fact:
Vice President Joe Biden warned there would be an "uptick" in American casualties in AfghanistanWashington Times: Biden Expects 'Uptick' In U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan (January 25, 2009)
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
