Yesterday afternoon, President Obama revealed plans to implement a new Afghan war strategy , that includes boosting troops levels, to several of his key security staff. Though nothing is confirmed yet, the President is expected to approve up to 30,000 additional U.S. troops to be sent to Afghanistan and to seek further troop commitments from NATO allies.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said that Obama called Secretary of State Hillary Clinton afterward to inform her of his upcoming decision. Afterwards, the President met with and revealed his implementation plans to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, top U.S. Middle East military commander Gen. David Petraeus and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, among others in an Oval Office meeting.
He is currently discussing and reviewing the decision with several other world leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Obama will be addressing and announcing his decision to the public during a press conference this evening in West Point, NY at 7pm ET.
Obama has been sitting on a request for 40,000 more troops from his top military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for several months. There are currently 68,000 U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan, and 45,000 additional troops from NATO allies who are hoping to wipe out al Qaeda elements and stabilize the country while training Afghan forces.
White House officials say the troops will reach Afghanistan in the next six months, and that Obama's plan aims to end the war in the next three years.
What do you think about Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan? Will you be tuning into the President's address tonight? Don't forget - 7pm ET!
via CNN
