U.S. Boosts Afghan Surge

[Mark Maker]

Source: WSJ

Pentagon Plans to Send 1,400 Extra Marines to Supplement Spring Campaign

WASHINGTON—Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to send an additional 1,400 Marine combat forces to Afghanistan, officials said, in a surprise move ahead of the spring fighting season to try to cement tentative security gains before White House-mandated troop reductions begin in July.

The Marine battalion could start arriving on the ground as early as mid-January. The forces would mostly be deployed in the south, around Kandahar, where the U.S. has concentrated troops over the past several months.

Commanders in Afghanistan and advocates of the strategy in Washington say temporarily adding front-line forces could help counter an anticipated spring offensive by Taliban militants returning from havens in neighboring Pakistan.

Commanders are examining other proposals to temporarily boost the number of combat troops in Afghanistan in addition to the Marines authorized Wednesday. If the plans are approved, the front-line fighting force could be increased in total by as many as 3,000 troops.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703675904576064021086613148.html

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Nothing is so permanent as a temporary fix.

[Hissyspit]

1. U.S. to Send 1,400 Extra Troops to Afghanistan: Report

Source: Reuters

U.S. to send 1,400 extra troops to Afghanistan: report

WASHINGTON | Thu Jan 6, 2011 2:14am EST

(Reuters) - The United States plans to send 1,400 additional Marines to Afghanistan to boost its combat forces ahead of the spring fighting season, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The United States, which led a 2001 invasion of Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban, has about 100,000 troops in the country, and President Barack Obama is under pressure to show results so he can begin a promised withdrawal this year.

"The Marine battalion could start arriving on the ground as early as mid-January. The forces would mostly be deployed in the south, around Kandahar, where the U.S. has concentrated troops over the past several months." the paper said. It cited unnamed officials.

The Taliban are at their strongest since they were ousted form power, although operations against the insurgency have intensified since 2008. More than 700 foreign troops were killed in Afghanistan last year, and civilian casualties were at record levels.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70518320110106

[PSPS]

2. Oh, isn't this delightful? It's going to be "the spring fighting season."

[sakabatou]

3. So when do we get out of that hell hole?

[Solly Mack]

4. "the spring fighting season"

Damn

[Sancho]

5. The world would celebrate if a President ordered US troops home!

I just don't get it.

[No Elephants]

6. Bad headline writing. We have no extra troops.. We are short of troops.

Should have read 1400 more troops or 1400 additional troops.

[elias49]

7. My God how sad!

Does the insanity ever end?:mad:

[ixion]

8. two points:

1) Sending troops to Afghanistan is not a withdrawal.

2) Guerrilla incursions DO NOT have 'fighting seasons'. This is one of the reasons an occupying army rarely, if ever, prevails in such conflicts.

[defendandprotect]

9. Taliban and Al Qaeda are creations of US/CIA and were funded up to 9/11....

and what are there now -- ? An alleged 50 Al Qaeda left in Afghanistan?

Why are we putting up with this war insanity?

NATIONALIZE THE OIL INDUSTRY and let's get on with alternative energy --

and squash this elite concept of perpetual wars for profit and to snag other

nations' resources --!!

[IcyPeas]

17. here you go....... whitehouse.gov

Contact the white house here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

tell them how you feel.

[timo]

10. this war needs more drone kill

rock on obama, spill some blood,show us that you too are an ass kicking name taker!!

[TomClash]

11. U.S. Boosts Afghan Surge Pentagon Plans to Send 1,400 Extra Marines to Supplement Spring Campaign

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to send an additional 1,400 Marine combat forces to Afghanistan, officials said, in a surprise move ahead of the spring fighting season to try to cement tentative security gains before White House-mandated troop reductions begin in July.

The Marine battalion could start arriving on the ground as early as mid-January. The forces would mostly be deployed in the south, around Kandahar, where the U.S. has concentrated troops over the past several months.

Commanders in Afghanistan and advocates of the strategy in Washington say temporarily adding front-line forces could help counter an anticipated spring offensive by Taliban militants returning from havens in neighboring Pakistan.

Commanders are examining other proposals to temporarily boost the number of combat troops in Afghanistan in addition to the Marines authorized Wednesday. If the plans are approved, the front-line fighting force could be increased in total by as many as 3,000 troops.

U.S. commanders in Afghanistan face intense pressure to show sustainable security gains in the first half of 2011. Military officials fear an upswing in attacks by the Taliban in the spring could convince the White House that the Pentagon's war strategy is flawed and that the troop pullout—the details of which have yet to be ironed out—should be accelerated.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703675904576064021086613148.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

[RedSock]

12. War (And Torture) We Can Believe In! (TM) (eom)

[Crowman1979]

13. Yeah, throw more in the meat grinder. What a great idea.

:sarcasm: :eyes:

[liberalmike27]

14. Damn Crowman

Almost my exact thought--more red meat for the MIC to gobble up.

Orwell's forever war has been realized.

[Crowman1979]

18. The meat grinder was the phrase used to describe Khe Sahn.

Today it's a good description for the area of southern Afghanistan.

[DrDan]

15. it would be a mere $1.4B to add 1400 troops for the year

a veritable bargain

[Roy Rolling]

16. Opposite Day

This is just the opposite of what's needed. If they want to test the strength of Afghan forces, bring home some American troops not send more....