Another campaign promise broken. This is the change you can believe in?
ABC News’ Luis Martinez reports: ABC News has learned that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has deferred a much-anticipated decision on sending additional troops into Afghanistan until President Obama decides what force levels he wants.
The news comes after an anticipated Pentagon proposal to send three additional combat brigades to Afghanistan — or 17,000 troops, as reported by ABC News last week — was presented to Gates for his approval this afternoon.
An element of the Pentagon troop proposal anticipated a large Marine brigade to be followed by two Army Brigade Combat Teams, including a Stryker Brigade.The top U.S. general in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, favors using the armored vehicles as a way of extending his troops’ presence to remote regions of Afghanistan.
hattip: ZIP who reminds us this interesting flashback from January.
Background: Taliban Warns Obama More Troops in Afghanistan Will Lead to More Bloodshed -Fox News (1/31/09)
Related posts:
- More Than 17,000 Troops Headed to Afghanistan
- Video: Obama lies again about the Surge
- Change: Obama to Keep About 150 Bush Pentagon Appointees
- A surge needed in Afghanistan
- Wow: Obama administration says “Taliban must take legitimate role” in Afghanistan
- Obama and Patraeus clashing over Iraq
- Latest in Afghanistan: Operation “Strike of the Sword”
- The Surge…one year later
- Troops in Afghanistan email: “Obama blew us off”
- 10 questions Obama will never be asked