In a move that demonstrates his willingness to keep his promises, US President Barack Obama today confirmed that an additional 17,000 troops will begin deployment to the south of Afghanistan in late spring of this year. This decision is aimed to better focus military resources and aid in facilitating the promised troop withdrawal from Iraq later this year.

The reinforcements will be comprised of both marine and army personnel: 8,000 marines, 4,000 army soldiers and a further 5,000 support staff in addition to the 19,000 currently in place. President Obama was quoted as having deemed the increase “necessary to stabilise a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan”, following a UN announcement of a 39% increase in civilian deaths last year alone.

The White House maintains that a decision on US troop reduction in Iraq will follow in the next few weeks.

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