Is 30,000 the TOTAL number of troops?

[cherokeeprogressive]

Every fighting force is like an alligator. It has teeth, and a tail. The teeth do the killing, and the tail helps with the balance and propulsion.

Are the 30,000 troops ALL going to be combat troops? If so, how many support troops will be needed to support them?

If the 30,000 number includes support troops, how many of the total will be COMBAT TROOPS, and how much of a difference will it make if only 6,000 or 7,000 of that 30,000 are forward based, and 23,000-24,000 are support personnel?

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. It's already something like 90,000. Now we'll have 240,000 in the region

Just like they wanted.

[avaistheone1]

2. The additional 30,000 to37,000 are actual troops. This does not include

various other support staff that will also deploy to Afghanistan, and of course more contractors too.

[bigjohn16]

3. With the 30,000 it will bring to total number of US forces to 100,000.

I don't know how that number breaks down. Sorry.

[Oregone]

4. Good question.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. I thought it needed to be asked. Funny, none of the war supporters here seen willing to contemplate

the question and reply.

Curious.

[The Straight Story]

6. There will be 3x as many civilians there in Jan compared to last Jan:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7127571