InfoAnda - US commander weighs more troops in Afghan war

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Hamas and secular groups, oppose direct talks with Israel | | 16 August 2010
Netflix and Vizio to stream films to high-def TVs | Technology | | 8 January 2009
AP sources: Ill. prison to get Gitmo detainees | 15 December 2009

PAKISTAN | 3 August 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : US commander weighs more troops in Afghan war

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: US commander weighs more troops in Afghan war AFP - Monday, August 3 WASHINGTON (AFP) - - The commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan is weighing advice that thousands of additional American forces are needed to prevail in the fight against insurgents. ADVERTISEMENT A number of analysts who helped draft an assessment for the new commander, General Stanley McChrystal, are publicly advocating a major increase in US troop numbers in Afghanistan -- a politically-sensitive proposal that could meet resistance in the White House and Congress. A prominent Washington military analyst who was part of the assessment effort, Anthony Cordesman, said it was crucial that more combat brigade teams -- which range from 3,000 to 5,000 troops -- be deployed as part of a shift in strategy. "Certainly there's a need for more US combat brigade teams. Exactly how many I think is a calculation that the military were making when I left," Cordesman, recently returned from Afghanistan, told AFP. "That's only part of the story. You're also going to need civilian aid workers, and you're going to need more people who are involved in the Afghan national security forces," said Cordesman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Cordesman and other analysts on the team said the mission had been neglected for years and that the target for Afghan security forces also needed to dramatically increase from current goals of 134,000 for the army and about 82,000 for the police. Cordesman was among a dozen analysts from across the political spectrum invited by McChrystal to offer their advice as he prepares his official review of strategy due in mid-August. "If we're going to make a serious go at this, I think we need to increase the troop count and the amount of money that we direct at the problem," said Stephen Biddle at the Council on Foreign Relations, who was also part of the team. The analysts said they were not speaking on behalf of the assessment team but US media reported the team had agreed that more resources were needed for the war. Their advice likely will carry weight with McChrystal, who is under pressure to deliver results and seize the initiative from the Taliban and its allies. Thousands of US troops are already pouring into Afghanistan as part of a buildup ordered by President Barack Obama earlier this year, with the US force in Afghanistan soon to reach 68,000. A request for more troops will present a political dilemma for the US president, as members of his own party are increasingly anxious about the Afghan mission and openly questioning the US commitment there. "There's a widespread perception that within the next 12 to 24 months something has to change in Afghanistan, sufficient to persuade skeptical Americans and especially skeptical lawmakers that this thing is not hopeless," Biddle said. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who as a career CIA officer saw Soviet troops chased out of Afghanistan, has warned against creating too big of a US "footprint" that could sow resentment. Apart from troop numbers, McChrystal also will consider changing the way US soldiers operate, with analysts suggesting Americans patrol more on foot and live among the population at smaller outposts instead of at heavily-fortified bases. Such a move would help US soldiers win the trust and confidence of Afghan civilians, which commanders say is essential to turning the tide against the Taliban and its allies, Biddle said. "The only way you can find the guerrillas in an insurgency is if the civilians tell you who they are," Biddle said. "You have to be living among them, patrolling on foot, visible, available, and familiar." The approach, however, could trigger higher American casualties initially as it would put US soldiers at more risk without the protection of armored convoys and secure bases, he said. The analysts also said improving governance in the impoverished country was as vital as bolstering security -- a view often voiced by military leaders. Washington could no longer provide aid without demanding accountability from the corruption-plagued government in Kabul, the analysts said. Although a call for a much larger Afghan security force was expected, it was still an open question as to what McChrystal would propose for US troop numbers, said Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution, who did not join in the assessment. "I believe that the view about US forces is less developed and perhaps still forming -- most of all, we need more evidence about what additional troops would do before McChrystal commits to asking for them," he said. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: Asia Pacific China energy efficiency 'improves in first half'AFP - Monday, August 3 China bans bad breath in space: reportAFP - Monday, August 3 Aquino's family declines state funeral offerReuters - Monday, August 3 N.Korea agrees to streamline border crossingAFP - Monday, August 3 Strong quake strikes eastern IndonesiaAFP - Monday, August 3 Enlarge Photo US commander weighs more troops in Afghan war Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed Organic food not healthier, says British study Comets probably won't cause the end of life as we know it: study Beer flows as Obama tries to cool down a hot furor Madonna writes of her spiritual awakening Swine flu: rich nations' spending spurs ethics row View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Monday, 3 August 2009
Iraqi PM, Kurd president meet over land, oil feud
China's Cosplay craze blurs fantasy and reality
Khatami condemns Iran's "show trial" of reformists
Officials see US economic growth in 2nd half
Iraqi PM, Kurd president meet over land, oil feud | International |
Iraq's Tareq Aziz gets 7 years jail in Kurds case
Iran hardliners accuse opposition of 'treason'
End of US economic crisis 'getting very close'
Latest in string of west Iraq bombings kills six
Israel opens West Bank road to Palestinian traffic
Afghan attacks kill five Western soldiers
China energy efficiency 'improves in first half'
China bans bad breath in space: report
Obama officials eye more jobless aid, weigh taxes
N.Korea agrees to streamline border crossing
Teller Nabs Would-Be Robber, Gets Fired
US aviator shot down in Iraq in 1991 identified
Federal Agents Seize Skin Care Products
LaGuardia terminal evacuated in NYC, 1 in custody
Wis. jury: Father guilty in prayer death case
Warship christened at Maine shipyard for NY Marine
Computer glitch downs JAL's domestic flights
No joke: Funny People falls flat at box office | Entertainment |
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
No joke: "Funny People" falls flat at box office
Newly discovered Mozart works played in Austria
US commander weighs more troops in Afghan war
IEA official warns of shrinking oil supplies: report
Iran leader approves Ahmadinejad presidency: TV | International |
Shares of smartphone maker HTC plunge on outlook
Virgin Media considers UK secondary listing: report
Key reformist figures on trial in Iran
Bomb kills 12, wounds 26 in west Afghanistan | International |
Ford records rare uptick in monthly sales: report
Microsoft to ship IE with Windows 7 in Europe
Conservative seeks trials for Iran bloodshed
50 Palestinians evicted from their Jerusalem homes
GIs, out of Iraq cities, have time on their hands
Five foreign troops killed in Afghanistan | International |
China says Uighur leader's children condemn mother | International |
Myanmar activist awarded Asia's Nobel prize | International |
Pentagon eyes accelerated "bunker buster" bomb
Budget woes, recession challenge day-labor centers
Pair of longtime Mich. fast-food workers retire
Gulf War pilot's remains found in Iraq desert
Wal-Mart worker bitten by accused shoplifter
Seattle bank teller chases robber, loses job
King salmon vanishing in Alaska, smokehouses empty
Aryan Nations gone, but stain remains in Idaho
S.Korea c.bank to recover all FX loans to banks
Korea Hot Stocks
Poverty saps local interest in Suu Kyi trial
RPT-UPDATE 1-S.Korea July exports down 20 pct, less than f'cast
S.Korean bonds steady; caution after upbeat data
New Zealand voter economic confidence soars-poll
Seoul shares open firm helped by auto, tech issues
Georgia refugees adapt to life in settlement camps
The serious side of the Funny People aftermath | Entertainment |
'Funny People' has last laugh at box-office top spot
Pianist plays newly discovered Mozart pieces
Researchers unveil Mozart piano pieces in Austria
Spielberg hops onto update of rabbit tale 'Harvey'
Leonard Cohen's Israel concert sells out in a day
Mark Wahlberg marries girlfriend Rhea Durham
Iran leader endorses Ahmadinejad but rivals absent
Canada extradites arms dealer to Germany
Iran leader approves Ahmadinejad's second term | International |
Panasonic announces Q1 net loss of 560 mln dlrs
HSBC says profit slumps 57% as bad debts leap
Afghan bomb blast kills 12 ahead of vote
Historic criminal trials go online
Afghan city bombing kills 12: police
Barclays Bank first-half profits soar by 10%
China seals off town after plague kills two | International |
American with cold misses ill-fated hike into Iran
Scientists find cannabis trigger for forgetfulness
Officials see US economic growth in 2nd half
Pakistan court adjourns leaving Lashkar founder free | International |
Criticism grows over Colombia's U.S. military plan | International |
Israel's Lieberman says will quit if indicted | International |
Somali pirates get $2.7 million ransom for German ship | International |
Qaeda tells Obama conditional truce offer stands | International |
WITNESS: Aquino's people power swept up reporters, too | International |
Nigerians count cost after uprising by Islamic sect | International |
Guantanamo inmates may move to special jail: report
Obama walks Russia-Georgia tightrope
Google CEO Schmidt to quit Apple board | Technology |
Japan eyes e-politics as political rivalry grows | Technology |
Microsoft's Bing gains another 1 percent of U.S. search | Technology |
LA tries test to find kids likely to join gangs
Indonesia budget sees 5.0 pct growth next year
SKorean July inflation at nine-year low
Seoul shares end firm helped by auto, tire issues
China manufacturing at 12-month high, index shows
Indonesia's drug fight pushes prison AIDS explosion
No sign of missing plane in Indonesia: official
Private donors help Versailles recover its splendor
Plane carrying 16 disappears over Indonesia
Plane carrying 16 disappears over Indonesian Papua
Billboard singles reviews: Brad Paisley, Jay-Z | Entertainment |
Court Orders Graduate Student To Pay Nearly $700,000 For Downloading Just 30 Songs Illegally
Explosive Stolen From Washington State Port, Feds Investigating
Teller Nabs Would-Be Robber, Gets Fired
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01