McChrystal to give troop deployment details to Congress

Malaysia News.Net
Tuesday 8th December, 2009

Democrats in the US Congress have signalled they will want an explanation from the top US commander in Afghanistan on how he will deploy the extra 30,000 US forces sent to the war zone.

In the second round of congressional questioning since President Barack Obama announced the Afghanistan war surge, General McChrystal is expected to once again confirm an 18-month timeline may not be enough to finish the war.

McChrystal had warned of failure without an addition of about 40,000 US forces.

Many Democrats have been opposed to the escalation while Republicans have pressed for an extension of the timeline.

On Monday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, spoke to troops, saying: "We are not winning, which means we are losing."

He told the troops they would go to Afghanistan to stop insurgents from gaining new recruits.

"That's why we need the 30,000," he said.

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