WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (KUNA) — US President Barack Obama said the increase of US troops in Afghanistan is necessary to stop the security deterioration in this country.
“There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed forces into harms way. I do it today mindful that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent attention and swift action,” said Obama in a statement released by the White House, late on Tuesday.
“The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al Qaeda supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe-haven along the Pakistani border,” he added. Obama said in order “to meet urgent security needs” he approved a request from Secretary of State Robert Gates to deploy a Marine Expeditionary Brigade next spring and an Army Stryker Brigade and the enabling forces necessary to support them later this summer, and noted there is an unanimous approval in the military command to meet the three month old request of US Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General David McKiernan.
“The fact that we are going to responsibly drawdown our forces in Iraq allows us the flexibility to increase our presence in Afghanistan,” said Obama.
Sources speculate the deployment order signed today by Defense Secretary Robert Gates include around 17,000 soldiers.
“This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires,” said Obama who established an interagency panel to review of US policy in Afghanistan.
“This troop increase does not pre-determine the outcome of that strategic review. Instead, it will further enable our team to put together a comprehensive strategy that will employ all elements of our national power to fulfill achievable goals in Afghanistan,” he noted. “As we develop our new strategic goals, we will do so in concert with our friends and allies as together we seek the resources necessary to succeed,” concluded Obama.