Afghan Deployment Issue for Next President: Pentagon
The issue of deploying additional US forces in Afghanistan is one for the next US President to take up, a spokesman for the Pentagon stated on July 23rd.
Commanders of US forces in the country having requested that the Pentagon provide as many as 10,000 extra soldiers to join allied forces at work there, the query was a topic talked over by Mr Bush, Robert Gates (US Defense Secretary) and US military officials yesterday.
More Troops into Afghanistan
With Mr Bush due to leave office at the beginning of 2009, sending more troops into Afghanistan before then is improbable, Geoff Morrell, spokesman for the Pentagon, told the media.
"This government is going to work to provide additional forces for Afghanistan next year”, he said.
“How many, whether it's the three additional brigades that the commanders want, I think is a question, frankly, for the next administration."
US Military’s Commitment to Iraq
One factor is the US military’s ongoing commitment to Iraq, a conflict prioritised by the Pentagon.
"The chairman of the Joint Chiefs [of Staff – Admiral Michael Mullen] has said time and time again Iraq is a mission we must do. Afghanistan is a mission we do as we can”, Morrell explained.
Afghan Troop Numbers
Mullen himself has agreed that troop numbers in Afghanistan are insufficient, but has highlighted the limitations on available forces dictated by the Iraq commitment.
"We've got our troops committed right now, either preparing there or coming back", Mullen stated in comments broadcast on US television.
"And until we get to a point where we reduce that commitment, we won't have significant additional troops to add to Afghanistan."
According to some officials, however, a smaller US troop deployment to Afghanistan could still take place.
Such a deployment, they anticipated, Mr Gates would approve.
Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent
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