Afghan troop surge now at 30,000

Guardian:

The United States is to deploy up to 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan by next summer. The figure - a third more than had been anticipated - was announced by the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and represents the highest figure mentioned publicly by a senior American official.

The confirmation of the scale of the troop surge - along with the increase in the upper limit of envisioned new forces - reflects concern over the course of the war in Afghanistan, which has been hit by numerous setbacks as security across the country has deteriorated in the face of Taliban advances.

In recent weeks Taliban attacks have severely disrupted the main supply line for US and Nato troops into the country from Pakistan, a route that carries up to 75% of supplies to foreign forces.

Washington is already sending some 3,000 extra troops to Afghanistan in January and another 2,800 by spring. However, previously officials have said that the number would be increased by 20,000 in the next 12 to 18 months, once approved by the new administration of President Barack Obama.

The increased scale of the commitment of US combat troops is bound to bring renewed pressure on the UK and other Nato partners to commit more troops: senior US military figures and officials have complained that America is shouldering too much of the burden in the war against the Taliban.

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I suspect it is more a recognition of the failure of the other NATO partners that is causing the US to send more troops. It would probably help to have 150,000 troops there, but that would increase the burden on the supply lines through Pakistan. The additional troops could be used for force protection along the supply lines which would mean the Taliban strategy has failed.