Gates: Afghanistan surge likely to happen soon

[unhappycamper]

Gates: Afghanistan surge likely to happen soon
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 16, 2008 22:02:14 EDT

WASHINGTON — Pentagon leaders on Wednesday signaled a surge in U.S. forces in Afghanistan “sooner rather than later,” a shift that could send some units there within weeks, as officials prepare to cut troop levels in Iraq.

Senior military officials are looking across the services to identify smaller units and other equipment that could be sent to Afghanistan, according to a defense official.

Although there are no brigade-sized units that can be deployed quickly into Afghanistan, military leaders believe they can find a number of smaller units such as aviation, engineering and surveillance troops that can be moved more swiftly, said the official, who requested anonymity because the discussions are private.

The moves are expected to happen within weeks rather than months, the official said.

The decisions are being made against the backdrop of shifting priorities for the U.S. military, and were discussed during a meeting Wednesday of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_afghanistan_increase_071608/