U.S. to Increase Spending in Afghanistan

[Dover]

U.S. to Increase Spending in Afghanistan
By DEB RIECHMANN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) -

President Bush, as part of his upcoming budget package, will ask Congress for $7 billion to $8 billion in new funds for Afghanistan to pay for security and rebuilding projects in the war-damaged nation, the White House said Thursday.

U.S. officials are expecting a resurgence of the Taliban this spring. Earlier this week, the Defense Department said that 3,200 soldiers from the New York-based 10th Mountain Division already in Afghanistan would have their tour extended by four months.

On Thursday, Gen. David Richards, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, said NATO-led troops battling resurgent Taliban militants will shortly be reinforced with another combat brigade. The NATO-led force, which is bracing for renewed fighting with Taliban militants this spring, is about 20 percent short of the troops levels pledged by its contributing nations.

Casualties in Afghanistan have risen sharply in recent months as the Taliban has stepped up operations and suicide attacks. Some 4,000 people died in insurgency-related violence in Afghanistan last year, according to numbers from Afghan, U.S. and NATO officials.

At the State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday that approximately $2 billion will be sought for military assistance...cont'd

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-exec/2007/jan/25/012509429.html

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The U.S. Bush Regime Is A Black Hole

[maddezmom]

1. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2703351