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Obama 'to detail Afghan end-game' Obama 'to detail Afghan end-game'
(20 minutes later)
President Barack Obama is to tell the American people that US troops will start to leave Afghanistan within three years, a senior official has said.President Barack Obama is to tell the American people that US troops will start to leave Afghanistan within three years, a senior official has said.
He will outline the rough withdrawal plan in a speech to the nation, when he will also announce a rapid six-month deployment of 30,000 extra soldiers.He will outline the rough withdrawal plan in a speech to the nation, when he will also announce a rapid six-month deployment of 30,000 extra soldiers.
Mr Obama has also asked Nato allies to send up to 10,000 more combat troops.Mr Obama has also asked Nato allies to send up to 10,000 more combat troops.
But France has refused, while Germany postponed any decision. The UK has agreed to send 500 more soldiers.But France has refused, while Germany postponed any decision. The UK has agreed to send 500 more soldiers.
In Tuesday evening's much-anticipated speech at West Point military academy, Mr Obama is expected to make an accelerated troop surge the centrepiece of his new strategy for Afghanistan.In Tuesday evening's much-anticipated speech at West Point military academy, Mr Obama is expected to make an accelerated troop surge the centrepiece of his new strategy for Afghanistan.
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 administration official told AP news agency President Obama would tell the American people that US troops will start leaving Afghanistan "well before" his first term ends in 2012. A senior administration official told AP news agency President Obama would outline a plan for US troops to start leaving Afghanistan "well before" his first term ends in 2012.
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.
A senior Pentagon official told the BBC the new troops would be made up of 9,000 Marines and 21,000 regular soldiers, including trainers.A senior Pentagon official told the BBC the new troops would be made up of 9,000 Marines and 21,000 regular soldiers, including trainers.
Mr Obama has reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.Mr Obama has reached his deployment decision after more than three months of deliberations and 10 top-level meetings with advisers.
The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says 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. The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says the American people will be anxious to hear in this hugely important speech how the president intends to get out of Afghanistan.
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 eight-year-old war. 'Quick punch'
Rising violence - more than 900 US soldiers have died there - and the chaos of August's discredited elections have fanned mounting domestic opposition to the eight-year-old war.
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 Mixed feelings in AfghanistanOBAMA'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 Mixed feelings in Afghanistan
Earlier this year, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned America risked failure unless troop numbers were increased. He requested 40,000 more soldiers.Earlier this year, the US military commander in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley McChrystal, warned America risked failure unless troop numbers were increased. He requested 40,000 more soldiers.
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 outlined his new strategy to Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai in an hour-long video conference on Tuesday morning.
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.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.
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.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.
France said it might be able to spare some personnel to train Afghan forces
An unnamed Nato diplomat told AP news agency on Tuesday that President Obama had asked European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan.An unnamed Nato diplomat told AP news agency on Tuesday that President Obama had asked European allies to contribute between 5,000 and 10,000 new troops to Afghanistan.
But President Nicolas Sarkozy's special envoy to Afghanistan told AFP news agency that France had ruled out sending more troops, although he said Paris might send military trainers. But President Nicolas Sarkozy's special envoy to Afghanistan told AFP news agency France had ruled out sending more troops, although Paris might send military trainers.
In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference 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 Germany would wait until after a 28 January conference in London on Afghanistan before deciding on any troop increases.
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.
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.