US to send 3,000 Marines to Afghanistan

Lolita Baldor, Associated Press, reports preparations are on for Pentagon to send 3,000 Marines to Afghanistan to bolster springtime efforts against an expected Taliban offensive.

The decision is perhaps a shift in strategic thought responding to criticism that U.S. military planners are falling short of deploying needed numbers. Some say 7,500 troops are needed.

We should pray for our military officials in Washington as the Pentagon sizes up sending at least 3,000 more Marines to Afghanistan – and pray for victory against the Islamic Telaban…

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Wednesday, Jan. 9, that a proposal for more troops will go before Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday.

The plan is for a ground and air Marine contingent as well as a Marine battalion — totaling more than 3,000 forces — sent to southern Afghanistan for a "one-time, seven-month deployment."

Gates, he said, will want to review the request, and is not likely to make a final decision on Friday.

"He will take it and consider it thoroughly before approving it," said Morrell. "I just want to get people away from the idea that this is going to be imminently approved by the secretary."

He said Gates "has some more thinking to do on this matter because it's a serious allocation of forces.” …

When Gates was in Afghanistan last month, commanders made it clear they needed the additional forces.

Last year was the most violent since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The number of attacks has surged, including roadside bombings and suicide assaults.

Currently there are about 27,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, including 14,000 with the NATO-led coalition. The other 13,000 U.S. troops are training Afghan forces and hunting al-Qaida terrorists.

Maybe Robert Redford should spend a month or two in Afghanistan to assess what Marines and coalition forces are doing.

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