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| Obama 'may unveil Afghan surge' | Obama 'may unveil Afghan surge' |
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| US President Barack Obama may announce a substantial surge in US troops to Afghanistan, the BBC has been told. | US President Barack Obama may announce a substantial surge in US troops to Afghanistan, the BBC has been told. |
| The BBC's Newsnight said the increase could be announced next week. | The BBC's Newsnight said the increase could be announced next week. |
| However, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs dismissed the report, saying the president had not yet made a decision on troop numbers. | However, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs dismissed the report, saying the president had not yet made a decision on troop numbers. |
| Earlier, UK PM Gordon Brown said Britain would send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions were met. | Earlier, UK PM Gordon Brown said Britain would send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions were met. |
| They would be sent as long as they had the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boosted their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers were trained. | They would be sent as long as they had the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boosted their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers were trained. |
| There are currently about 9,000 UK personnel in Afghanistan. | There are currently about 9,000 UK personnel in Afghanistan. |
| 'Coordinated review' | 'Coordinated review' |
| Newsnight said the Obama administration had already told the UK government it would soon announce a substantial increase to its military forces in Afghanistan. | Newsnight said the Obama administration had already told the UK government it would soon announce a substantial increase to its military forces in Afghanistan. |
| All indications are that President Obama is honouring the request by Gen McChrystal Said Jawad, Afghan ambassador to US Troops to boost UK presence class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/markurban/2009/10/why_gordon_thinks_hes_on_a_pro.html">Mark Urban's blog | |
| The programme said it understood an announcement could come next week, in time for a Nato defence ministers meeting in Bratislava. | The programme said it understood an announcement could come next week, in time for a Nato defence ministers meeting in Bratislava. |
| On the programme, Said Jawad, the Afghan ambassador to Washington, was asked if he could confirm that the United States would be sending more troops. | On the programme, Said Jawad, the Afghan ambassador to Washington, was asked if he could confirm that the United States would be sending more troops. |
| "We should wait for the official announcement by the US government but all indications are that President Obama is honouring the request by Gen McChrystal." | "We should wait for the official announcement by the US government but all indications are that President Obama is honouring the request by Gen McChrystal." |
| He was asked if that meant 40,000 to 45,000 extra troops. | He was asked if that meant 40,000 to 45,000 extra troops. |
| "This is part of the request, yes," he said. | "This is part of the request, yes," he said. |
| But Mr Gibbs said the president had "not made a decision". | But Mr Gibbs said the president had "not made a decision". |
| He added: "I think that you can assume that the BBC will not be the first outlet for such a decision." | He added: "I think that you can assume that the BBC will not be the first outlet for such a decision." |
| However he did say the US had been "coordinating our review with our allies" and that Mr Brown had "communicated to us their decision to send more troops" in a phone call last week. | However he did say the US had been "coordinating our review with our allies" and that Mr Brown had "communicated to us their decision to send more troops" in a phone call last week. |
| "Obviously, the British people and those that serve there have borne an enormous price in casualties. Obviously, we're thankful for a strengthening of the coalition," Mr Gibbs said. | "Obviously, the British people and those that serve there have borne an enormous price in casualties. Obviously, we're thankful for a strengthening of the coalition," Mr Gibbs said. |
| Mr Brown said he was prepared, in principle, to send an extra 500 troops to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan - where Nato troops are fighting fierce battles with the Taliban - in response to military advice. | Mr Brown said he was prepared, in principle, to send an extra 500 troops to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan - where Nato troops are fighting fierce battles with the Taliban - in response to military advice. |
| He said the reinforcements would happen only if troops had the equipment and training necessary to perform the tasks asked of them. | He said the reinforcements would happen only if troops had the equipment and training necessary to perform the tasks asked of them. |
| Given the conditions placed on their deployment, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said it was unlikely the extra troops would be in Afghanistan soon. | Given the conditions placed on their deployment, the BBC's defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said it was unlikely the extra troops would be in Afghanistan soon. |
| But the announcement did send a clear message to the US as it reviews its Afghan strategy, she added. | But the announcement did send a clear message to the US as it reviews its Afghan strategy, she added. |
| Mr Obama has been considering future troop options after a request by Gen McChrystal, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, for what has been widely reported as up to 40,000 more Nato troops. | Mr Obama has been considering future troop options after a request by Gen McChrystal, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, for what has been widely reported as up to 40,000 more Nato troops. |
Isaf's major combat teams in AfghanistanIsaf's provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan | Isaf's major combat teams in AfghanistanIsaf's provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan |
| Over 40 countries contribute forces to the international mission in Afghanistan. Isaf has full details of current contributing nations. | Over 40 countries contribute forces to the international mission in Afghanistan. Isaf has full details of current contributing nations. |