how many troops do we have in afghanistan today? need to know.

[Paradise]

a * operative on c-span said we have 45,000 troops in afghanistan today, and i am almost positive that number is false, and that we have nowhere near that number. i already tried to search. can anyone help me out here? thanks.

[Ilsa]

1. I thought it was mroe like 4,000 to 5,000, but I'm not sure. I'll help

you look.

[Paradise]

8. this is, most likely, the correct #. they are "spinning" the #'s. n/t

[proud patriot]

2. The last number I heard was 11,000

:shrug: that was at the begining of Summer

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. I believe they upped it to 19,000

for the election.

[Paradise]

6. thank you so much. please read my reply # 5. :) n/t

[Paradise]

5. thank you so much. :)

today on c-span a bush operative argued that we have 45,000 troops in afghanistan. that was his counter to 'we pulled troops out of afghanistan and diverted them into iraq'. they will say anything! like kerry said... "These guys are the biggest bunch of liars and crooks I've ever seen".

[Ilsa]

4. Here's a site that has it at 17,900. I was waaaay off.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040709-afghan-presence.htm

U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan at 17,900, and expected to hold steady

In-Depth Coverage
By Lisa Burgess

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. military forces in Afghanistan now number 17,900 and are likely to remain at that level at least through the New Year, according to senior Pentagon leaders.

Lt. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, the Joint Staff’s Director of Operations, gave the size of the current U.S. presence in Afghanistan during testimony Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee.

His revelation that there are close to 18,000 U.S. troops involved in Operation Enduring Freedom appeared to surprise some members of the committee — including Rep. John Spratt, a Democrat from South Carolina — who had presumed a considerably smaller presence.

SNIP

[Paradise]

7. thank you, ilsa. please read my reply # 5. :) n/t