Senators, Military Advisers Urge Obama to Double Afghan Forces

Indira A.R. Lakshmanan | Bloomberg News, Aug 4, 2009

Aug. 4 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama and top U.S. military commanders are under pressure from influential senators and civilian advisers to double the size of Afghan security forces, a commitment that would cost billions of dollars.

In private letters and face-to-face meetings, these supporters of mounting a stronger effort against the Taliban seek to boost the Afghan National Army and police to at least 400,000 personnel from the current 175,000.

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Tags: Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, President Barack Obama, senators and advisers, top U.S. military commanders