'Pentagon Wants British Iraq Forces Redeployed In Afghan "Surge"', Times Online, 20 November 2008
EXCERPT: "The Pentagon wants Britain to use troops withdrawn from Iraq to reinforce the Nato mission in Afghanistan, despite strong misgivings in the Ministry of Defence. Speaking before a meeting today of defence ministers representing the eight countries fighting in southern Afghanistan, Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, said that America was sending thousands more troops and expected other allies to do the same. A presidential review of the US-led mission in Afghanistan, completed this week, is expected to call for more troops to be sent to the country. Barack Obama, the US President-elect, has promised to make the war in Afghanistan a priority of his new Administration and plans a 'surge' of forces to fight the resurgent Taleban. The Pentagon is planning to send between 15,000 and 20,000 more troops to the country, in addition to the 33,000 already there."
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See also:
'Extra 1,200 UK troops to be sent to Afghanistan', Daily Mail, 20 November 2008
'AP Interview: US military can meet Obama demands', The Associated Press, 20 November 2008
'NATO allies meet in NS on worsening Afghan violence, increase in troops', The Canadian Press, 19 November 2008
Related posts:
'Britain to NATO members: Help more in Afghanistan', 12 November 2008
'NATO's political will "wavering" in Afghanistan', 20 October 2008
'Britain, NATO struggle for Afghanistan numbers', 10 September 2008
'Afghanistan death rate for British troops tops Iraq', 27 August 2008
'Army crisis as 10,000 troops are unfit to fight', 22 June 2008
