True or False - Obama has already increased the troop level by 40,000 since entering office?

[HughMoran]

Poll question: True or False - Obama has already increased the troop level by 40,000 since entering office?

Rachel twice showed a graph that showed the troop levels in Afghanistan. She said he took over at 31,000 and that presently there are 71,000 based on the graph. Is her graph correct?

[ret5hd]

1. Why are matters of fact posited as matters of opinion?

If she is incorrect, show us the facts.

(fyi: i don't know if she is correct or not)

[PBS Poll-435]

2. I don't think her numbers are correct

I think that the 71K number double counted because soldiers were both starting and ending a tour or rotation.

Pretty sure that is right.

[HughMoran]

3. I'm confused as they are discussing the "21,000 troops sent in March"

...and why didn't that make things better - what happened to the other 19,000 and when were they sent?

[HughMoran]

4. Follow up - which is a bigger number - 40,000 or 30,000?

I'm having an issue understanding some basic math tonight - can someone help me here?