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Obama calls for 30,000 troops for Afghanistan

By Andrew Schofield, Managing Editor, on December 7, 2009 8:24 PM

By Andrew Schofield, Editorial Assistant -

In 2004, after more than three years of war in Afghanistan, then-President George W. Bush proclaimed, “Coalition forces, including many brave Afghans, have brought America, Afghanistan and the world its first victory in the war on terror.”

More than five years later, amid pleas for more troops from Gen. Stanley A. McCrystal, top military commander in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 more American troops into the increasingly violent conflict.

After an invasion of Afghanistan following the attacks of Sept. 11, American and NATO forces secured and reached relative stability in the country surprisingly quickly in contrast with the war in Iraq. However, after eight years, the situation has deteriorated considerably. Over 800 American soldiers have lost their lives. The Afghani government faces legitimacy questions amid allegations that President Hamid Karzai played a role in election fraud; democracy in Afghanistan faces an increasingly powerful opponent in the resurgent Taliban.

Last September, as the situation in Afghanistan was worsening, General McCrystal, in a report to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, asked for 30,000 to 40,000 more troops without which, McCrystal warned, the conflict in Afghanistan “will likely result in failure.”

After over two months of deliberation, Obama announced that he would not only increase troop numbers in Afghanistan by 30,000 to a total of nearly 100,000 troops, but also mapped an exit strategy, an element lacking in the previous administration’s policies. In his plan, Obama would begin to draw troops out of Afghanistan by the middle of 2011, citing that the United States cannot afford an open-ended commitment.

In addition to the troop increase, the Obama administration laid out a strategy in which the new troops will focus on protecting the urban centers of Afghanistan including Kabul, Khost, and Kandahar, the Taliban’s spiritual capital. Obama is also focusing on non-military aspects of the conflict, such as increasing economic development and reconciling with less radical members of the Taliban.

The hope of the Obama administration is that the Afghani government will take an increasingly more important role in the fight against terrorism. In Obama’s words, “The days of providing a blank check are over.”

According to The New York Times, Obama spent over an hour on the phone with Karzai, pressing him to take a more active role in combating a drug trade that many believe is responsible for the resurgence of the Taliban. Furthermore, Obama is advocating increased training for local police forces and national forces in a similar fashion to the “surge” in Iraq.

However, the plan has met significant resistance, even from members of Obama’s own party. Many argue that the United States is in no position to increase its commitment considering the problems on our own doorstep, such as the financial crisis and the fight for health care reform.

“I see no good reason for us to send another 30,000 or more troops to Afghanistan when we have so many pressing issues — like our economy — to deal with in this country,” Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), said.

Despite this criticism, the Obama administration maintains that the war in Afghanistan is vital to the security of the United States.

“If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow,” Obama said while outlining his position in front of hundreds of cadets at West Point.
What remains to be resolved is how Obama intends to pay the estimated $30 billion price tag. Dismissing a war surtax recommended by some Democrats, Obama offered no details, only saying he will deal with the cost “openly and honestly.”

In the coming weeks, members of the White House administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, will testify before Congress and Obama hopes to have the additional troops deployed within the next six months. If Obama’s plan for increased troops stabilizes the region, the troops could be home by the summer of 2011. However, if the condition of the security of Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, Obama will face more pressures here in the United States to focus more on domestic problems including the economic crisis.