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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Obama increases Afghan deployment | Obama increases Afghan deployment |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has authorised the deployment of up to 17,000 extra US troops to Afghanistan, saying they are to "meet urgent security needs". | |
| Two brigades - one army and one marine - are to be sent, Mr Obama said in a statement released by the White House. | Two brigades - one army and one marine - are to be sent, Mr Obama said in a statement released by the White House. |
| This first major troop deployment under Mr Obama comes as his administration reviews US policy in Afghanistan. | This first major troop deployment under Mr Obama comes as his administration reviews US policy in Afghanistan. |
| The troops are to be sent before warmer weather brings an expected increase in fighting, defence officials said. | The troops are to be sent before warmer weather brings an expected increase in fighting, defence officials said. |
| The US already has about 14,000 troops serving with a Nato-led mission. There are also 19,000 US troops under sole US command fighting Taleban insurgents. | The US already has about 14,000 troops serving with a Nato-led mission. There are also 19,000 US troops under sole US command fighting Taleban insurgents. |
| US commanders in Afghanistan have requested 30,000 additional troops. | US commanders in Afghanistan have requested 30,000 additional troops. |
| Mr Obama said the increase "is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan". | Mr Obama said the increase "is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan". |
| "The Taleban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al-Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe-haven along the Pakistani border," Mr Obama said. | |
| Afghanistan, he said, "has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires". | |
| He said the deployment was made possible by the upcoming drawdown of US troop numbers in Iraq. |