DoD Buzz: The Great Afghan Numbers Debate

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The Great Afghan Numbers Debate
By Greg Grant Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 12:16 pm
Posted in International, Land, Policy

Where do things stand with the great Afghanistan troop numbers decision, some two months after Gen. Stanley McChrystal issued a request for reinforcements? News outlets have been stumbling over each other to report that President Obama has settled on a final number. The speculation continues despite a brush-back thrown Monday night by National Security Adviser Jim Jones, who said in an emailed statement to reporters: “Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false.”

Over the weekend, McClatchy had by far the most detailed report, saying the plus-up number would be 34,000, to include three Army brigades from the 10th Mountain and the 101st Airborne Divisions, a Marine Expeditionary Brigade and a new division headquarters to be stood up in Kandahar. The first of the new brigades would arrive in March and the rest would follow at three month intervals.

The AP reported on Monday that “tens of thousands” more forces would go, but not quite the 40,000 figure reportedly requested by ISAF commander McChrystal. The story says the additional troops would be tasked with providing security in ten key towns and cities.

CBS News reported the number would be around 40,000, or four combat brigades plus thousands more support troops, so nothing really different than what McClatchy ran with. The story adds that a fighting force of around 100,000 American troops would be kept in Afghanistan for about four years or until the Afghan security forces are able to stand on their own.

Today’s New York Times portrays Obama as undecided and keeping his options open, with his senior military and foreign advisers, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs chair Mike Mullen, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all favoring around 30,000 more troops. Strategic options Obama is said to be mulling over include how much of Afghanistan must be controlled and how rapidly the Afghan security forces can be expanded.

Rest of war-mongering article at: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/11/the-great-afghan-numbers-debate/?wh=wh