News & Features - WH: No Afghan decision before Thanksgiving

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WH: No Afghan decision before Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama won't announce his decision about sending more troops to Afghanistan before Thanksgiving, senior aides said Thursday.

The news came as Obama greeted troops at Osan Air Base in South Korea before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington after his eight-day trip to Asia, The Washington Post reported.

Obama and his key military and diplomatic aides have been discussing the direction of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan for months. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, requested an additional 40,000 U.S. troops within the next year, saying without the added personnel the mission "will likely result in failure." However, some aides argued for a smaller increase while U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry openly questioned whether the Afghan government can be a reliable partner in fighting the Taliban and other insurgents.

In interviews Wednesday, Obama said he would make public his decision within the next few weeks. On Thursday, aides said no announcement would be made before Thanksgiving.

Senior administration officials told the Post Obama planned to meet with his national security team again before announcing his decision.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 11/19/2009

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