This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8392177.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Obama officials push Afghan surge | Obama officials push Afghan surge |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Top US officials have begun working to build support for the Afghan troop surge, a day after President Barack Obama set out his new strategy. | Top US officials have begun working to build support for the Afghan troop surge, a day after President Barack Obama set out his new strategy. |
| Joint Chiefs of Staff head Adm Mike Mullen said the surge would provide "forces to turn this thing around". | Joint Chiefs of Staff head Adm Mike Mullen said the surge would provide "forces to turn this thing around". |
| But senior Republican John McCain said that although the strategy would succeed, US and UK troop casualties would rise in the short term. | |
| Nato minsters are now due to meet, with the troop issue topping the agenda. | |
| Mr Obama announced on Tuesday that he was sending 30,000 more US troops to fight in Afghanistan, taking the total number of US soldiers there to more than 100,000. | Mr Obama announced on Tuesday that he was sending 30,000 more US troops to fight in Afghanistan, taking the total number of US soldiers there to more than 100,000. |
| MARDELL'S AMERICA Mr Obama's top team have been on Capitol Hill trying to convince the serious and senior elected politicians that this is the right strategy Read Mark Mardell's thoughts in full | MARDELL'S AMERICA Mr Obama's top team have been on Capitol Hill trying to convince the serious and senior elected politicians that this is the right strategy Read Mark Mardell's thoughts in full |
| Senator John McCain, the senior Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the BBC he backed Mr Obama's decision to deploy more troops but not the announcement that their withdrawal would begin in July 2011. | |
| "We need to make it clear to the enemy that we're going to succeed and we are going to stay as long as necessary to succeed," he said. | |
| He also warned that the US and UK should expect more casualties in the short term as the surge gets under way. | |
| Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says other Nato countries will provide at least 5,000 extra troops, and "probably a few thousand on top of that". | Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says other Nato countries will provide at least 5,000 extra troops, and "probably a few thousand on top of that". |
| America has asked for 10,000 more troops from Nato allies to help win a war that has in recent months turned increasingly bloody and led to rising foreign troops deaths. | America has asked for 10,000 more troops from Nato allies to help win a war that has in recent months turned increasingly bloody and led to rising foreign troops deaths. |
| 'Achievable' | 'Achievable' |
| In Washington, top White House officials sought to bolster support for the new strategy, decided on after weeks of high-level talks. | In Washington, top White House officials sought to bolster support for the new strategy, decided on after weeks of high-level talks. |
| Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that failure to act against the resurgent Taliban would have "severe consequences" for the US and the world. | |
| Adm Mullen, Mr Gates and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all addressed congressional committees on the issue. | Adm Mullen, Mr Gates and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all addressed congressional committees on the issue. |
| Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country and likely a renewed civil war Robert Gates Full text of Obama speech Nato pledges 5,000 Afghan troops US media on the troop surge Afghan concern over pullout date | Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country and likely a renewed civil war Robert Gates Full text of Obama speech Nato pledges 5,000 Afghan troops US media on the troop surge Afghan concern over pullout date |
| "This is a huge commitment. It's the right commitment. And it gives us the forces to turn this thing around," Adm Mullen told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. | "This is a huge commitment. It's the right commitment. And it gives us the forces to turn this thing around," Adm Mullen told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. |
| He told lawmakers that while there were no guarantees, he expected to "make significant headway in the next 18-24 months". | He told lawmakers that while there were no guarantees, he expected to "make significant headway in the next 18-24 months". |
| Mr Gates, speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the first troops would go within weeks. He also backed Mr Obama's goal of beginning to bring them home within 18 months. | Mr Gates, speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the first troops would go within weeks. He also backed Mr Obama's goal of beginning to bring them home within 18 months. |
| "Beginning to transfer security responsibility to the Afghans in summer 2011 is critical - and, in my view achievable," he said. | "Beginning to transfer security responsibility to the Afghans in summer 2011 is critical - and, in my view achievable," he said. |
| And he warned that failing to act "would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country" and the creation of a sanctuary for al-Qaeda militants. | And he warned that failing to act "would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country" and the creation of a sanctuary for al-Qaeda militants. |
| The Taliban have pledged to intensify their fight in response to the US troop increase. | The Taliban have pledged to intensify their fight in response to the US troop increase. |
| But the Afghan government has backed the move and America's top commander there, General Stanley McChrystal, said he had been given a "clear mission" and the necessary resources. | But the Afghan government has backed the move and America's top commander there, General Stanley McChrystal, said he had been given a "clear mission" and the necessary resources. |
| The extent of additional resources coming from Nato allies remains unclear, although European nations have voiced support for Mr Obama's surge. | The extent of additional resources coming from Nato allies remains unclear, although European nations have voiced support for Mr Obama's surge. |
| Britain, Georgia, Poland and Slovakia have all pledged more troops but other nations such as France, Germany, Italy and Denmark are being more cautious. | Britain, Georgia, Poland and Slovakia have all pledged more troops but other nations such as France, Germany, Italy and Denmark are being more cautious. |
| Several countries are expected to declare their intentions over the course of the Nato meeting, correspondents say. | Several countries are expected to declare their intentions over the course of the Nato meeting, correspondents say. |