Obama deploys 17,000 extra troops to Afghanistan
US to increase military presence in Afghanistan by 17,000 troops, Barack Obama says
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Wednesday, 18, Feb 2009 10:01
The United States will increase its military presence in Afghanistan by 17,000 troops, Barack Obama has said.
The president said the situation in Afghanistan demanded "urgent attention and swift action".
"The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan, and al-Qaida supports the insurgency and threatens America from its safe-haven along the Pakistani border," he said in a statement.
The US already has 38,000 troops in Afghanistan. The deployment of 17,000 regular troops, marine and support staff is the first part of an anticipated surge in the south Asian country.
"This reinforcement will contribute to the security of the Afghan people and to stability in Afghanistan," Mr Obama continued.
"I recognise the extraordinary strain that this deployment places on our troops and military families. I honour their service, and will give them the support they need."
Mr Obama later told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) that despite the additional deployment, diplomacy remained the best hope for stability in Afghanistan.
"I am absolutely convinced that you cannot solve the problem of Afghanistan, the Taliban, the spread of extremism in that region solely through military means," he said.
"We're going to have to use diplomacy. We're going to have to use development."
Canada has about 2,800 troops in Afghanistan but prime minister Steven Harper says he expects to withdraw them later this year.
President Obama told CBC he wanted to discuss the issue with Mr Harper to convince him to keep the troops where they were.