*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, UK - October 15, 2009: Hours after Washington thanked Britain for sending more soldiers to Afghanistan, the White House was denying a report that President Barack Obama will announce U.S. plans next week to send up to 45,000 additional troops to the war-torn country. 
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 13: Afghan soldiers are put through training exercises under the supervision of British troops at Ghar Ordoo military base, on October 13, 2009 in Herat, Herat province west of Kabul, Afghanistan. Foreign NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops across 42 countries are involved in training Afghan National Forces in the fight against the Taliban insurgency.
The BBC's Newsnight reported Wednesday that the Obama administration has already told the British government it will soon announce a substantial increase to its military forces in Afghanistan.
The announcement could come next week, the report said, in time for a NATO defence ministers meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia.
However, the report was immediately dismissed by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, who said Obama had not yet made a decision on troop numbers.
Obama has said he would make up his mind in the coming weeks.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, has submitted a still-secret troop request which outlines three options – from as many as 80,000 more troops to as few as 10,000 – but favours a compromise of 40,000 more forces, officials have told The Associated Press.
There now are 67,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and 1,000 more are headed there by the end of December.
Gibbs was talking following the latest three-hour meeting on the United States' next moves in Afghanistan, which dealt at length with strengthening the civilian mission and training of Afghan police and army.
The BBC report and denial comes on the heels of a pledge Wednesday by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to send more troops to Afghanistan but only if NATO and the Afghan government do more to help fight the Taliban.
Brown said his government would increase British troop levels to 9,500 – an increase of about 500 – on the condition that President Hamid Karzai reduce corruption and improve his government's performance.
Brown also pledged to send troops only if he can provide them with the proper equipment, and if NATO allies increase their contributions to the war effort.
Germany has about 4,200 troops, and Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure from legislators at home to set a timetable for a withdrawal. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to pull out the bulk of Canada's 2,800 soldiers by 2011, and the Dutch parliament has called for bringing home their 2,200 troops.
Military experts said Brown wants to show British support for the war as the U.S. debates an increase in its Afghan troop levels and he is unlikely to call off the deployment. Brown did not specify what contributions he is seeking from NATO nations, or exactly what the Afghans must do to get the extra forces, an indication that the conditions are largely designed to put political pressure on Karzai and NATO, they said.
The increase in British troops is small and may be of mostly symbolic importance, but it will likely be welcomed by Obama as his administration ponders difficult options in Afghanistan. Britain is the second-largest force in the 42-nation NATO coalition in Afghanistan.
Gibbs said Brown informed Obama of his decision last week when the two leaders spoke by telephone.
"Obviously, the British people and those that serve there have borne an enormous price in casualties," Gibbs said Wednesday. "Obviously, we're thankful for a strengthening of the coalition, and our assessment continues. But again ... we're happy for their increase in contributions."
Retired Col. Christopher Langton, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said it is extremely unlikely that Brown will ultimately decide to cancel the deployment even if the conditions he demanded are not met, in part because Brown has said he is responding to requests from senior military advisers.
Brown appeared to dismiss an argument put forward that Western forces should limit their goals to eliminating Al Qaeda through precise strikes.
"Our objective is clear and focused: to prevent Al Qaeda launching attacks on our streets and threatening legitimate government in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 13: Afghan soldiers are put through training exercises under the supervision of British troops at Ghar Ordoo military base, on October 13, 2009 in Herat, Herat province west of Kabul, Afghanistan. Foreign NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops across 42 countries are involved in training Afghan National Forces in the fight against the Taliban insurgency.
The BBC's Newsnight reported Wednesday that the Obama administration has already told the British government it will soon announce a substantial increase to its military forces in Afghanistan.
The announcement could come next week, the report said, in time for a NATO defence ministers meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia.
However, the report was immediately dismissed by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, who said Obama had not yet made a decision on troop numbers.
Obama has said he would make up his mind in the coming weeks.
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, has submitted a still-secret troop request which outlines three options – from as many as 80,000 more troops to as few as 10,000 – but favours a compromise of 40,000 more forces, officials have told The Associated Press.
There now are 67,000 American troops in Afghanistan, and 1,000 more are headed there by the end of December.
Gibbs was talking following the latest three-hour meeting on the United States' next moves in Afghanistan, which dealt at length with strengthening the civilian mission and training of Afghan police and army.
The BBC report and denial comes on the heels of a pledge Wednesday by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to send more troops to Afghanistan but only if NATO and the Afghan government do more to help fight the Taliban.
Brown said his government would increase British troop levels to 9,500 – an increase of about 500 – on the condition that President Hamid Karzai reduce corruption and improve his government's performance.
Brown also pledged to send troops only if he can provide them with the proper equipment, and if NATO allies increase their contributions to the war effort.
Germany has about 4,200 troops, and Chancellor Angela Merkel is under pressure from legislators at home to set a timetable for a withdrawal. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to pull out the bulk of Canada's 2,800 soldiers by 2011, and the Dutch parliament has called for bringing home their 2,200 troops.
Military experts said Brown wants to show British support for the war as the U.S. debates an increase in its Afghan troop levels and he is unlikely to call off the deployment. Brown did not specify what contributions he is seeking from NATO nations, or exactly what the Afghans must do to get the extra forces, an indication that the conditions are largely designed to put political pressure on Karzai and NATO, they said.
The increase in British troops is small and may be of mostly symbolic importance, but it will likely be welcomed by Obama as his administration ponders difficult options in Afghanistan. Britain is the second-largest force in the 42-nation NATO coalition in Afghanistan.
Gibbs said Brown informed Obama of his decision last week when the two leaders spoke by telephone.
"Obviously, the British people and those that serve there have borne an enormous price in casualties," Gibbs said Wednesday. "Obviously, we're thankful for a strengthening of the coalition, and our assessment continues. But again ... we're happy for their increase in contributions."
Retired Col. Christopher Langton, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said it is extremely unlikely that Brown will ultimately decide to cancel the deployment even if the conditions he demanded are not met, in part because Brown has said he is responding to requests from senior military advisers.
Brown appeared to dismiss an argument put forward that Western forces should limit their goals to eliminating Al Qaeda through precise strikes.
"Our objective is clear and focused: to prevent Al Qaeda launching attacks on our streets and threatening legitimate government in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said. Additional Troops To Afghanistan Related Headline News....for full stories click on the links below
~ Kerry 'wary' of Afghan troop rise Aljazeera.net
~ Obama Becomes Target on Afghan Troop Review as Pressure Rises Bloomberg
~ U.S. officials look at scenarios for Afghanistan 'middle path' Los Angeles Times
The strategies under consideration would require fewer additional troops than requested by Gen. McChrystal.
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