Barack Obama decision on Afghan troops 'in days', Gordon Brown says

The Prime Minister told MPs he has spoken to the US president and expects a statement from the White House soon.

Mr Obama is now in his third month of deliberations about a military request for another 40,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

The Daily Telegraph revealed last week that there is growing frustration in Whitehall at the US president’s prolonged deliberations over Afghanistan.

Britain has 9,000 troops in Afghanistan and Mr Brown has already authorised another 500.

He said he wants Nato allies to follow suit.

Mr Brown told MPs: "We're the first country to have agreed to send additional troops for the next stage of the mission in Afghanistan and we are seeking to persuade other countries to join us in this."

He added: “I have also talked to President Obama and I expect him to announce in a few days what his numbers for Afghanistan will be.” read more

Obama seeks revisions to Afghanistan plans, sources say

By Suzanne Malveaux and Mike Mount, CNN
November 12, 2009 -- Updated 0408 GMT (1208 HKT)

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama told his war council Wednesday that the U.S. troop commitment to Afghanistan is not open-ended, and he asked for revisions to options he previously received for sending more troops, a senior administration official told CNN.

The war council -- made up of top Cabinet, Pentagon and administration officials -- met with Obama for the eighth time to discuss a request by the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan for up to 40,000 more troops. The meeting lasted more than two hours, according to the senior administration official.

"The president and his team discussed the length of time that it would take to implement the options he's been presented," the senior official said. "The president believes that we need to make clear to the Afghan government that our commitment is not open-ended. After years of substantial investments by the American people, governance in Afghanistan must improve in a reasonable period of time to ensure a successful transition to our Afghan partner."

In particular, Obama pushed for revisions in proposed plans for troop increases to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, the official said.
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