Obama may send tens of thousands more troops to Afghanistan in January

November 10, 9:01 AMLA Military Headlines ExaminerMark Nero

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A U.S. soldier on watch in Afghanistan's Kunar province Sat., Nov. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

White House officials have told the Associated Press and other media outlets that President Obama is nearing a decision to increase the level of American troops in Afghanistan by tens of thousands.

The deployment would most probably begin in January with a mission to stiffen the defense of 10 key cities and towns, according to the Associated Press. An Army brigade based at Fort Drum in upstate New York has been training for deployment and may be the vanguard, according to the AP.

Obama's expected to meet again tomorrow with members of his foreign policy and military teams to discuss the situation. However, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that final plans for Afghanistan probably wouldn't be announced until late November.

Three months ago, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said that 40,000 more troops are needed in the country to battle insurgents and the Taliban. White House sources have been saying for days that Obama isn't likely to approve quite that many troops, but would likely send at least 10,000. Obama has already said that reducing troop numbers is not an option.

For more info: Associated Press story.