Updated November 20, 2009
Up to 7,000 NATO Forces Sought for New Afghan Strategy
WSJ
NATO secretary general is expected to announce new troops shortly after Obama unveils his plan, officials say.
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is in advanced talks with its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies for a coordinated rollout of a new Afghan war strategy, which U.S. officials hope will include a commitment by European allies to send several thousand additional troops.
U.S. and European estimates of the new troops they may get from NATO allies vary from 3,000 to 7,000. Those would complement the additional U.S. forces Obama is considering; those options range from 10,000 to 40,000, but U.S. officials have said a combination of combat troops and training forces totaling 35,000 has gained the most momentum.
Arrangements haven't been finalized, but coordinated announcements of new troops could come as soon as the week of Nov. 30. They are likely to include an address by the NATO secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, shortly after President Barack Obama unveils his strategy.
According to officials familiar with the talks, Rasmussen would attempt to send a clear signal that the U.S. isn't alone in its plans to confront the Taliban. Officials said that Obama's review of Afghan strategy and U.S. troop levels, which some had thought would be completed last month, was extended in part to solidify NATO support.
NATO foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels starting Dec. 3, and European diplomats said they expect Obama to make his announcement ahead of the meeting.
Latest Politics Video
Most Active In Politics
Most Read
Most Commented
-
Reid Compares Opponents of Health Care Reform to Supporters of Slavery
December 07, 2009 1,529 comments
-
Gibbs Scrawls Grocery List on Hand in Jab at Palin
February 09, 2010 1,472 comments
-
Brown Scores Upset Victory Over Coakley in Massachusetts Senate Race
January 20, 2010 1,186 comments
-
Palin to Join Fox News as Contributor
January 11, 2010 1,147 comments
-
House Passes Health Care Bill
November 08, 2009 1,138 comments
Real Clear Politics Poll
| Job Approval | Approve | Disapprove | Spread |
| Obama | 47.9% | 46.7% | +1.2% |
| Congress | 23.0% | 70.3% | -47.3% |
| Direction of Country | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Spread |
| RCP Average | 35.3% | 58.2% | -22.9% |
-
Obama, Republicans Seek Accord
February 10, 2010
-
Union-Backed Nominee Blocked in Senate
February 09, 2010
-
Gridlock in Senate Fuels Frustration
February 09, 2010
-
Washington Builds a Snow Mountain
February 09, 2010
-
Reid Hopes to Complete Jobs Bill This Week
February 09, 2010
-
Home Loan Demand Drops Despite Dip in Rates
February 10, 2010
-
Euro Zone Holds Intensive Talks About Greek Rescue
February 10, 2010
-
Senate Jobs Bill Includes Tax Incentives for Hiring
February 09, 2010
-
Fed's Bullard: Central Bank Needs More Regulatory Power
February 09, 2010
-
Small Biz Tax Incentives Will Create Jobs: Summers
February 09, 2010
-
Narrative Preaching 2
February 10, 2010
-
Seminary Re:mixed
February 09, 2010
-
Linday Lohan = Jesus Christ?
February 09, 2010
-
Incredible time lapse of "Snowmaggedon"
February 09, 2010
-
Atheism and our inhuman nature
February 09, 2010



recommend

Subscribe to Comments







