Obama Plans Additional Afghan Escalation

Despite Talk of "Exit Strategy," Plan Will Further Increase Presence

by Jason Ditz, March 26, 2009

Last Updated 3/27/09 10:45 AM EST

In addition to the 17,000 troops President Obama has already committed to add to the war effort in Afghanistan, his new “comprehensive strategy” will include another 4,000 troops and hundreds of “civilian advisers,” bringing the US military presence in Afghanistan to nearly 60,000.

Defending the escalation, Obama declared that the Taliban “must be stopped,” and that Americans must also accept that Pakistan “needs our help.”

Just days ago in a high profile interview, Obama said the plan would have to include some sort of “exit strategy.” So far there has been no indication that this is the case, and if anything, the latest plan and comments seem designed to further entrench US forces in the nation and escalate the conflict even further.

The Afghan war is also the “most important operational priority” for NATO, and the British military intends to send 2,000 additional soldiers. Despite repeated talks of new strategies and growing commitments, the situation continues to worsen, leaving open the question of how throwing more troops and money at the situation, after 7 plus years of doing that, could possibly constitute a “new” course of action.

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