Friday, August 08, 2008

US SecDef Okays Huge Expansion Of Afghan Army


US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has endorsed a new $17 billion plan to increase the size of the Afghan army by about 50,000 troops, which would bring their strength up to around 130,000 men.

He also likes the idea of creating a unified command:

In addition, Gates is poised to approve a plan that would give Army Gen. David McKiernan broader control over U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Currently, McKiernan commands the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan, which includes about 15,000 U.S. forces. Under the new proposal, McKiernan also would control the additional U.S. forces in Afghanistan who are training the Afghan army and police. There are about 34,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the highest since the war began.


Perhaps he reads JoshuaPundit...that would definitely be a good thing.




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