U.S. Army Cpl. Michael Tacker provides security while other members of the Kapisa-Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team assess a bridge over the Panjshir River in Mahmood Rahqi, Afghanistan, Sept. 9, 2009. Tacker is an infantryman assigned to the team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Teddy WadeUS Military United On Afghanistan Troop Request -- Christian Science Monitor
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top US commander in Afghanistan, delivered his request for more troops to top military brass at a secret meeting in Germany this week.
Washington - The top US military officers now agree that more troops are needed to win the conflict in Afghanistan, leaving President Obama with potentially less wiggle room in making a decision about deepening America's involvement there.
This week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, received a troop request in a secret meeting in Germany with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, whose recently submitted strategy review concluded that a larger US force is necessary to win the counterinsurgency there. That request will arrive on Mr. Obama's desk in coming days, bringing debate on the way forward in Afghanistan to a head.
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MORE NEWS ON AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Troop Request Delivered -- Voice of America
US commanders hold secret meeting on Afghan war -- AFP
Top U.S. Military Officials Conferred Secretly in Germany -- New York Times
Military Leaders Hear Out McChrystal on Afghanistan Troop Request -- Washington Post
Top Officers Weigh Need to Increase Troop Levels -- Times Online
Gen. McChrystal Surprised by Enemy Strength in Afghanistan -- FOX News
Afghan Troop Request Simmers -- Wall Street Journal
Four U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan -- Reuters
NATO revises death toll for US troops to four -- AFP
18 Taliban insurgents killed in N Afghanistan -- China View
Eight Taliban militants killed, 3 more wounded in S Afghanistan -- China View
Afghan civilian deaths hit record high in August -- AP
Northern Afghan violence undercuts US supply route -- AP
Kandahar Air Field on a growth spurt -- Seattle Times
Afghanistan may introduce compulsory military service -- The Telegraph
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 769 -- AP
No 'perfect' answers in Afghanistan: Obama -- AFP
Obama: I know Americans tired of war -- AP
Obama says understands weariness with Afghan war -- Reuters
Obama: Public Weariness on War Understandable -- CBS
COMMENTARIES AND ANALYSIS
What's the Right Strategy for Afghanistan? -- Washington Post
Coming Up Short in Afghanistan -- Patrick Walters, The Australian opinion.
Go All-In, Or Fold -- Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Washington Post
This Week at War: America's Last Counterinsurgent? -- Foreign Policy
US Mideast Commander Endorses Afghanistan Assessment, Current Strategy -- Voice of America
Counterinsurgents Grapple With Next Afghanistan Moves -- Spencer Ackerman, Washington Independent.