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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US boosts force fighting Taleban | US boosts force fighting Taleban |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The United States has agreed to bolster the Nato forces fighting the Taleban and their allies in Afghanistan. | The United States has agreed to bolster the Nato forces fighting the Taleban and their allies in Afghanistan. |
| The Pentagon said 3,200 men of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division would stay on in the country for four months. | The Pentagon said 3,200 men of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division would stay on in the country for four months. |
| The Americans said the decision would enable Nato to "maintain the initiative and build upon the success achieved in promoting stability and security". | The Americans said the decision would enable Nato to "maintain the initiative and build upon the success achieved in promoting stability and security". |
| The announcement comes amid expectations that the Taleban will to mount a spring offensive. | The announcement comes amid expectations that the Taleban will to mount a spring offensive. |
| It comes only days after the Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Richards, told a British newspaper he had "less troops than needed" to complete his task. | It comes only days after the Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Richards, told a British newspaper he had "less troops than needed" to complete his task. |
| Meanwhile US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to ask Congress for an extra $8bn in economic aid to the government of President Hamid Karzai, amid growing concerns about the increased level of violence and the political situation in the country. | Meanwhile US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to ask Congress for an extra $8bn in economic aid to the government of President Hamid Karzai, amid growing concerns about the increased level of violence and the political situation in the country. |
| Violent year | Violent year |
| BBC World affairs correspondent Nick Childs says that, after the most violent year in the country since the US-led invasion in 2001, there is clearly concern in the Bush administration that, unless something is done, Afghanistan risks going the way of Iraq. | BBC World affairs correspondent Nick Childs says that, after the most violent year in the country since the US-led invasion in 2001, there is clearly concern in the Bush administration that, unless something is done, Afghanistan risks going the way of Iraq. |
| The Taleban are expected to mount a spring offensive | |
| There are currently 24,000 US troops in the country, who make up the bulk of the foreign military presence. | There are currently 24,000 US troops in the country, who make up the bulk of the foreign military presence. |
| Nato commanders have said their forces were around 10% under strength due to some nations failing to make good on pledges to provide more troops. | Nato commanders have said their forces were around 10% under strength due to some nations failing to make good on pledges to provide more troops. |
| Just under half the US force are part of the 31,000-strong Nato peacekeeping command - the rest are on a separate mission to hunt down al-Qaeda fighters. | Just under half the US force are part of the 31,000-strong Nato peacekeeping command - the rest are on a separate mission to hunt down al-Qaeda fighters. |
| We want to have our own offensive, and it should be civilian and military, it should be broad gauged, it should be reconstruction, development, it should be counter-narcotics, and it should be security and military, as well. Kurt VolkerDep Ass Sec of State | We want to have our own offensive, and it should be civilian and military, it should be broad gauged, it should be reconstruction, development, it should be counter-narcotics, and it should be security and military, as well. Kurt VolkerDep Ass Sec of State |
| Ms Rice is also expected again to press US allies to do more on the military and reconstruction fronts in Afghanistan at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday. | Ms Rice is also expected again to press US allies to do more on the military and reconstruction fronts in Afghanistan at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday. |
| Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker told the AFP news agency: "We want to have our own offensive, and it should be civilian and military, it should be broad gauged, it should be reconstruction, development, it should be counter-narcotics, and it should be security and military, as well. | Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker told the AFP news agency: "We want to have our own offensive, and it should be civilian and military, it should be broad gauged, it should be reconstruction, development, it should be counter-narcotics, and it should be security and military, as well. |
| "That's what she wants to talk about with her counterparts, to go through the various elements of what's needed in Afghanistan and go from a general level of political commitment to a concrete level of actual support." | "That's what she wants to talk about with her counterparts, to go through the various elements of what's needed in Afghanistan and go from a general level of political commitment to a concrete level of actual support." |