U.S. Seeks 10,000 Troops From Its Allies in Afghanistan (NYT)

[jefferson_dem]

U.S. Seeks 10,000 Troops From Its Allies in Afghanistan
By ERIC SCHMITT and STEVEN ERLANGER



WASHINGTON — The United States is scrambling to coax NATO allies to send 10,000 additional troops to Afghanistan as part of President Obama’s strategy for the region. Those countries appear willing to provide fewer than half that number, American and allied officials said Wednesday.

NATO members and other foreign allies have expressed reluctance to send more soldiers because of the Afghan war’s growing unpopularity in their countries and increasing concerns over corruption in President Hamid Karzai’s government.

The Obama administration views a substantial contribution from its allies as a way to keep the American troop increase lower and blunt domestic political criticism of the Afghan war. It would also allow the administration to come close to the military’s request for 40,000 additional troops without relying totally on the already stretched American armed forces.

After weeks of deliberation, Mr. Obama is to announce his Afghan war policy on Tuesday. Administration officials say that a strong speech explaining Mr. Obama’s strategy for achieving success would provide them with fresh ammunition to galvanize support in foreign capitals.

The administration confronts several hurdles to garnering more allied contributions. In Britain, which has pledged an additional 500 troops, Defense Minister Bob Ainsworth said Tuesday that Mr. Obama had taken too long to decide on a new strategy, harming the British government’s ability to rally public support for the war.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/world/asia/26troops.html?_r=2&hp

[itsrobert]

1. Fail

They won't come. They'll get at the most, 1000.

[avaistheone1]

2. Lotsa luck. Europe has said they won't send them already.

[Oregone]

3. Screw that

Other nations aren't keen on having their peacekeeping forces prop up corrupt puppet governments in an unwinnable war