After three months of deliberations, Obama was outlining his plans in an address to war-weary Americans on Tuesday at 8 p.m. (EST/0100) today from the US Military Academy at West Point, New York.His aim is turn the tide on what US military commanders call a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan due to a resurgent Taliban. He may face a tough sell at home with many Americans skeptical of sending more troops and wanting more focus on the weak US economy and 10.2 percent jobless rate. Obama told US military commanders on Sunday he had settled on a plan and gave the orders to carry it out, the White House said. He also held a meeting to inform top advisers of his decision. “The commander in chief delivered the orders,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
Obama briefed allies on his plan on Monday and talked to congressional leaders on Tuesday before delivering his speech. The troop increase represents a major investment by Obama in the war shortly before he travels to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. It will likely set off a battle in the US Congress over funding since his own Democrats oppose a big troop surge. The added cost could reach $20-40 billion.
Gibbs would not detail Obama’s strategy, but other US officials said Obama would announce that he has authorized sending about 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Washington Reuters
