The Pentagon is moving to get three of the four combat brigades requested by commanders into Afghanistan by summer, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said as he traveled here to meet with military leaders.
In his most specific comments to date about how soon he will meet the call for up to 20,000 more troops in Afghanistan, Gates said he will not have to cut troop levels further in Iraq to free up at least two of those three brigades for Afghan duty.
They'll arrive during the enemy's traditional offensive season and will be able to conduct a more robust winter offensive when the enemy tries to hunker down, rest, and regroup.
Just what will they do and what will the objective be? On this I'm not clear. And how will we strengthen our supply lines with such a larger force in Afghansitan at the mercy of the stability and resolve of the Pakistani government to defend our main supply line?
We could be doing the right thing. But I've not read anything authoritative from civilian leadership to help me conclude one way or the other.
