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US 'adds 30,000 to Afghan troops' US 'adds 30,000 to Afghan troops'
(10 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is to rapidly deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan within six months, US officials have said.President Barack Obama is to rapidly deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan within six months, US officials have said.
Mr Obama will make the much-anticipated announcement as part of a speech to the nation at West Point military academy.Mr Obama will make the much-anticipated announcement as part of a speech to the nation at West Point military academy.
Officials in Brussels say the American president is also asking Nato allies to provide up to 10,000 extra soldiers.Officials in Brussels say the American president is also asking Nato allies to provide up to 10,000 extra soldiers.
The US currently has 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, with foreign forces overall totalling more than 100,000.The US currently has 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, with foreign forces overall totalling more than 100,000.
President Obama's Afghan surge is expected to focus on tackling the Taliban in the volatile south and east of the country.President Obama's Afghan surge is expected to focus on tackling the Taliban in the volatile south and east of the country.
End-game?End-game?
He is also expected to lay out a rough timeframe for how long the main US military mission will last.He is also expected to lay out a rough timeframe for how long the main US military mission will last.
MARDELL'S AMERICA The danger for the president is that this middling figure will annoy hawks, while annoying those who think any new build-up is undesirable Read Mark's thoughts in fullMARDELL'S AMERICA The danger for the president is that this middling figure will annoy hawks, while annoying those who think any new build-up is undesirable Read Mark's thoughts in full
A senior Pentagon official told the BBC the new troops would be made up of 9,000 Marines and 21,000 regular soldiers, of which 4,000 will train Afghan security forces.A senior Pentagon official told the BBC the new troops would be made up of 9,000 Marines and 21,000 regular soldiers, of which 4,000 will train Afghan security forces.
President Obama's prime-time address to the nation on Tuesday evening comes amid growing domestic concern over the eight-year-old Afghan war.President Obama's prime-time address to the nation on Tuesday evening comes amid growing domestic concern over the eight-year-old Afghan war.
The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says Mr Obama will seek to reassure a confused and suspicious public that this is not an open-ended mission.The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says Mr Obama will seek to reassure a confused and suspicious public that this is not an open-ended mission.
For all the sense of deeper engagement, this hugely important speech will also be about how the US president intends to get out of Afghanistan, our correspondent adds.For all the sense of deeper engagement, this hugely important speech will also be about how the US president intends to get out of Afghanistan, our correspondent adds.
'Quick punch''Quick punch'
Both the rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan - and the chaos that followed August's discredited elections have fanned mounting American opposition to the mission.Both the rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died in Afghanistan - and the chaos that followed August's discredited elections have fanned mounting American opposition to the mission.
OBAMA's SCHEDULE 2100 GMT: Meets Congressional leaders at White House2230 GMT: Departs for West Point, New York0100 GMT Weds: Address to the nation0340 GMT Weds: Arrives back at the White House Marines train for Afghanistan Afghans sceptical on new troops OBAMA's SCHEDULE 2100 GMT: Meets Congressional leaders at White House2230 GMT: Departs for West Point, New York0100 GMT Weds: Address to the nation0340 GMT Weds: Arrives back at the White House Marines train for Afghanistan Afghans sceptical on new troops class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8389255.stm">Mixed feelings in Afghanistan
Earlier this year, however, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned that America risked failure unless troop numbers were increased.Earlier this year, however, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned that America risked failure unless troop numbers were increased.
He requested 40,000 more soldiers.He requested 40,000 more soldiers.
Mr Obama has reached his decision after 10 top-level meetings with advisers over three months.Mr Obama has reached his decision after 10 top-level meetings with advisers over three months.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told MSNBC on Tuesday: "This is not an open-ended commitment, what we are doing is putting forward a comprehensive strategy and an end-game in Afghanistan."White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told MSNBC on Tuesday: "This is not an open-ended commitment, what we are doing is putting forward a comprehensive strategy and an end-game in Afghanistan."
He said the deployment would be accelerated to "deliver a punch quickly".He said the deployment would be accelerated to "deliver a punch quickly".
The US president has outlined the new military strategy to Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai. He is also thought to have briefed the leaders of Russia, France, Britain, Germany and China.The US president has outlined the new military strategy to Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai. He is also thought to have briefed the leaders of Russia, France, Britain, Germany and China.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says that while the speech will probably receive a cautious welcome from the Afghan government, many people in the country do not want any more foreign forces.
European alliesEuropean allies
An unnamed Nato diplomat told AP news agency on Tuesday that President Obama is asking European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan. They say every time America sends more troops the security situation gets worse, and some question why the US is spending billions of dollars on the military - and not on aid and reconstruction.
Angela Merkel said she would make no decision on troops before JanuaryAngela Merkel said she would make no decision on troops before January
An unnamed Nato diplomat told AP news agency on Tuesday that President Obama is asking European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan.
On Monday, Britain confirmed it was sending 500 more troops, taking the UK's total deployment there to 10,000.On Monday, Britain confirmed it was sending 500 more troops, taking the UK's total deployment there to 10,000.
Italy has also said it will increase its force, although without saying by how much.Italy has also said it will increase its force, although without saying by how much.
But President Nicolas Sarkozy said last month France would "not send a single soldier more".But President Nicolas Sarkozy said last month France would "not send a single soldier more".
In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference on Tuesday Germany would wait until after a 28 January conference in London on Afghanistan before deciding on any troop increases.In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference on Tuesday Germany would wait until after a 28 January conference in London on Afghanistan before deciding on any troop increases.