US/UK/Afghanistan - extra troops

Pentagon denies reports of unannounced extra troops

Article published on the 2009-10-14 Latest update 2009-10-14 09:56 TU

A US Marine at Camp Barcha in Helmand province.
(Photo: Reuters)

The Pentagon is trying to play down reports on Tuesday that it is sending an “unannounced” extra 13,000 troops to Afghanistan. The Washington Post claimed the extra troops were being sent as support to the 21,000 that US President Barack Obama had already authorised in March.

The Washington Post says the deployment "has received little mention by officials at the Pentagon and the White House, who have spoken more publicly about the combat troops who have been sent to Afghanistan".

But Colonel Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesperson, clarified that the troops were still within the overall maximum of 68,000 to be sent to Afghanistan this year. He said that the 13,000 were already approved by Obama’s predecessor George Bush and that it was completely normal for a major deployment of troops to be backed up with support.

“Nothing’s missing. Nothing’s hidden,” Colonel Lapan said, pointing out that the Post article itself had confirmed 68,000 is still the maximum number. Laban added that support troops were necessary to clear mines, service equipment and provide air and medical support.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to announce a decision on Wednesday to send an extra 500 British troops to Afghanistan. But he will set out numerous conditions for their deployment. These are likely to include better equipment and a new Afghan government being put in place after widespread allegations of fraud marred August’s elections.

Public support is waning for the eight-year war in Afghanistan and President Obama is finding it hard to persuade countries to commit more troops. Britain has the second largest force in Afghanistan behind the US.