Obama OKs about 17,000 More Troops for Afghanistan

By ANNE GEARAN | AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says he’s sending additional U.S. troops into Afghanistan to battle insurgent threats and crumbling security along the Pakistan border. Obama has approved a Pentagon request to deploy Marines and Army troops to the region. Congressional officials say an estimated 17,000 troops will go in the coming months.

In a statement Tuesday, Obama called sending armed forces into harm’s way one of a president’s most solemn duties …

Continue Reading

Petraeus Pushes NATO Allies to Step Up Afghan Fight

By James G. Neuger and Tony Czuczka | Blommberg.com

Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. pushed European NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, warning of a resurgence in terrorist violence in the country that gave rise to the Sept. 11 attacks.

U.S. Army General David Petraeus said the security situation has “deteriorated markedly” since 2007 and appealed for more troops and war-fighting equipment to bolster stability as nationwide elections test Afghanistan’s ability to govern itself.

“I would be remiss if I did not ask individual countries to examine very closely what forces and other contributions they can provide,” Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia, told the Munich Security Conference today …

Continue Reading