3-star: Surge could take 11 months to complete

[unhappycamper]

3-star: Surge could take 11 months to complete
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 14, 2009 12:43:17 EST

KABUL — The second-highest ranking U.S. general in Afghanistan said Monday the planned rapid escalation of American troops would take longer than expected to carry out, indicating it will probably be nine to 11 months before they are all in place.

Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez said during a briefing in the Afghan capital that the slower schedule results from the logistical challenges the military faces in bringing in so many forces so quickly. In launching a 30,000-troop surge, the Obama administration had initially said it expected that all of troops would be in place within six months.

President Barack Obama had not cited that figure directly, saying in his Dec. 1 nationally-televised speech that the troops would “deploy in the first part of 2010 — the fastest pace possible — so that they can target the insurgency.” White House aides had indicated the hope was for all the new troops to be in place by summer.

Military officials had already been hinting broadly in recent weeks that the escalation might take longer, but Rodriguez’ comments indicated that the notion of a six-month rapid escalation was not realistic and that reality is now setting in.

Rodriguez said the nine- to 11-month timeline was his own estimate. That rough schedule is the most specific expression thus far of the emerging consensus that the surge will stretch well into the fall.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_afghanistan_surge_121409/