Obama to sent extra 17,000 troops to Afghanistan

Getty Images
US troops on patrol in eastern Afghanistan These soldiers will soon be joined by an extra 17,000 servicemen and women being sent to the troubled nation by President Obama.
Wednesday February 18 2009
US President Barack Obama has announced plans to send an extra 17,000 American soldiers to Afghanistan.
The extra troops will join around 33,000 US soldiers who are already operating in the country.
Mr Obama had promised during his election campaign to switch the US military focus from Iraq to Afghanistan.
He says the troop increase is necessary to stabilise a deteriorating situation in the country.


