More troops to Afghanistan

The Pentagon has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates for 3,000 more troops to be sent to Afghanistan, to counter a potential Taliban spring offensive.

Gates has in the past criticized NATO members for not providing more combat troops and equipment and has said that 7,500 additional troops are required to fulfill all command requirements. If approved, this infusion of American troops would indicate that the U.S. is agreeing to shoulder some of the extra troop burden. William H. McMichael of the Army Times writes:

If Gates decides to approve the new request, the troops — a Marine Air-Ground Task Force and a battalion that would focus on the training of Afghan army and police units — would be in place by April and spend seven months operating in southern Afghanistan, the area most vexed by Taliban attacks. It would be a “one-time-only” deployment and the troops, who would be assigned to Regional Command South, would not be replaced by additional U.S. forces, (Gates spokesman Geoff) Morrell said.

Morrell also said that troops would not be drawn from Iraq.

Jan. 15 update: 3,200 Marines are being told to prepare to be sent to Afghanistan, according to The Associated Press. Secretary Robert Gates is expected to sign the formal “one-time, seven-month” deployment orders soon.