In an unannounced move, President Obama is dispatching an additional 13,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan beyond the 21,000 he announced in March, according to a published report.
The additional troops are primarily support forces -- such as engineers, medical personnel, intelligence experts and military police -- The Washington Post reported, bringing the total increase Obama has approved for the war-torn nation to 34,000.
"Obama authorized the whole thing. The only thing you saw announced in a press release was the 21,000," an unnamed defense official familiar with the process told the paper.
The report comes as Obama weighs a request from the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for more combat, training and support troops, with several options including one for 40,000 more forces.
But the newspaper noted that the maximum number of U.S. service members expected in Afghanistan by year's end -- 68,000 -- would remain the same.
Major deployments of support troops have not been publicized by the Pentagon and the White House in the past. When former president George W. Bush announced a U.S. troop increase in Iraq, he only mentioned 20,000 combat troops and not the accompanying 8,000 support troops.
The troop increase approved by Obama brought the level of U.S. forces deployed in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters to a total greater than during the peak of the surge in Iraq in late 2007 and early 2008.
This was a great move by the president. Only regret is that it was leaked to the press. Now is the time for action, Now is the time to move while the iron is hot. Pakistan is pissed and pushing them toward us. We must stike them and strike them hard. Our brave soldiers are worthy and are the best in the world. we must crush them NOW.
For the first time I am proud of my president!!!!
The additional troops are primarily support forces -- such as engineers, medical personnel, intelligence experts and military police -- The Washington Post reported, bringing the total increase Obama has approved for the war-torn nation to 34,000.
"Obama authorized the whole thing. The only thing you saw announced in a press release was the 21,000," an unnamed defense official familiar with the process told the paper.
The report comes as Obama weighs a request from the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for more combat, training and support troops, with several options including one for 40,000 more forces.
But the newspaper noted that the maximum number of U.S. service members expected in Afghanistan by year's end -- 68,000 -- would remain the same.
Major deployments of support troops have not been publicized by the Pentagon and the White House in the past. When former president George W. Bush announced a U.S. troop increase in Iraq, he only mentioned 20,000 combat troops and not the accompanying 8,000 support troops.
The troop increase approved by Obama brought the level of U.S. forces deployed in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters to a total greater than during the peak of the surge in Iraq in late 2007 and early 2008.
This was a great move by the president. Only regret is that it was leaked to the press. Now is the time for action, Now is the time to move while the iron is hot. Pakistan is pissed and pushing them toward us. We must stike them and strike them hard. Our brave soldiers are worthy and are the best in the world. we must crush them NOW.
For the first time I am proud of my president!!!!
Oppertunity to work in unisin with Pakistan, NOW IS THE TIME TO STRKE!!!!!
"READY FOR ASSAULT"
The government says the assault is imminent but it will be up to the army when they send in ground troops.
A ground offensive in South Waziristan could be the army's toughest test since the militants turned on the state.
The army has not said when it would begin but a senior military officer in the region told Reuters that they were set.
"We're ready for the assault. Preparations have been done. It's just a matter of the go-ahead order," said the officer who declined to be identified.
"It'll be done from multiple directions to squeeze them," he said.
About 28,000 troops have been put in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hardcore Taliban, army officials have said.
But some analysts worry that might not be enough, especially if the army has to block militants from other factions based in North Waziristan coming to the help of their comrades.
Taliban had asked shopkeepers in Razmak bazaar to shut their shops and residents of three villages in the area to vacate their homes, a tribal elder said.
"People are scared and have begun gathering their belongings to leave. No one wants to be killed in fighting," Wali said.
Pakistani Taliban fighters made advances toward Islamabad early this year, raising fears about the stability of the nuclear-armed U.S. ally.
But government forces have made gains against the militants in recent months, largely driving them out of the Swat valley, northwest of the capital, and their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a missile fired by a U.S. drone aircraft in August.
Even if Pakistan adds a victory in South Waziristan to those successes, analysts say it could still face months or years of traumatic asymmetric warfare against militants, though the insurgents have no chance of gaining control of the state.
"READY FOR ASSAULT"
The government says the assault is imminent but it will be up to the army when they send in ground troops.
A ground offensive in South Waziristan could be the army's toughest test since the militants turned on the state.
The army has not said when it would begin but a senior military officer in the region told Reuters that they were set.
"We're ready for the assault. Preparations have been done. It's just a matter of the go-ahead order," said the officer who declined to be identified.
"It'll be done from multiple directions to squeeze them," he said.
About 28,000 troops have been put in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hardcore Taliban, army officials have said.
But some analysts worry that might not be enough, especially if the army has to block militants from other factions based in North Waziristan coming to the help of their comrades.
Taliban had asked shopkeepers in Razmak bazaar to shut their shops and residents of three villages in the area to vacate their homes, a tribal elder said.
"People are scared and have begun gathering their belongings to leave. No one wants to be killed in fighting," Wali said.
Pakistani Taliban fighters made advances toward Islamabad early this year, raising fears about the stability of the nuclear-armed U.S. ally.
But government forces have made gains against the militants in recent months, largely driving them out of the Swat valley, northwest of the capital, and their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a missile fired by a U.S. drone aircraft in August.
Even if Pakistan adds a victory in South Waziristan to those successes, analysts say it could still face months or years of traumatic asymmetric warfare against militants, though the insurgents have no chance of gaining control of the state.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
Heavy fighting on the border of Pakistan yesterday, 3 Americans lost their lives while this Admin. is silent on their needs. Viet Nam mantality wont wash...ATTACK and dont look back. Give em HELL boys!!!!!
Still considering? Why? And how long does it take to figure out that NOW is the time to strike them?
TOUGH TEST
In a show of unity before the offensive, government and political party leaders gave the military full backing on Friday, vowing to weed out militants.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan has been under U.S. pressure to crack down on Islamist militancy as President Barack Obama considers a boost in troop numbers fighting in neighboring Afghanistan. Many al Qaeda and Taliban members fled to northwest Pakistan after U.S.-led troops ousted the Taliban in Kabul in 2001 and the region has become a global hub for Islamist militancy.
The offensive could be the army's toughest test since the militants turned on the state and it will be hoping Afghan Taliban factions elsewhere in South Waziristan and in North Waziristan stay out of the fight.
Up to 100,000 civilians have fled from South Waziristan in anticipation of the offensive, the army said, while the United Nations said 500 people were leaving every day.
Pakistani Taliban made advances toward Islamabad early this year, raising fears about the stability of the U.S. ally.
But significant military gains in the Swat valley, northwest of Islamabad, have reassured the United States and other allies about Pakistan's commitment to the fight.
The United States needs Pakistani help to disrupt militant attacks into Afghanistan, where U.S.-led forces are struggling against an increasingly potent insurgency.
U.S. officials in Washington said on Friday the Pentagon was ramping up delivery of military equipment long sought by the Pakistani army to fight militants.
TOUGH TEST
In a show of unity before the offensive, government and political party leaders gave the military full backing on Friday, vowing to weed out militants.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan has been under U.S. pressure to crack down on Islamist militancy as President Barack Obama considers a boost in troop numbers fighting in neighboring Afghanistan. Many al Qaeda and Taliban members fled to northwest Pakistan after U.S.-led troops ousted the Taliban in Kabul in 2001 and the region has become a global hub for Islamist militancy.
The offensive could be the army's toughest test since the militants turned on the state and it will be hoping Afghan Taliban factions elsewhere in South Waziristan and in North Waziristan stay out of the fight.
Up to 100,000 civilians have fled from South Waziristan in anticipation of the offensive, the army said, while the United Nations said 500 people were leaving every day.
Pakistani Taliban made advances toward Islamabad early this year, raising fears about the stability of the U.S. ally.
But significant military gains in the Swat valley, northwest of Islamabad, have reassured the United States and other allies about Pakistan's commitment to the fight.
The United States needs Pakistani help to disrupt militant attacks into Afghanistan, where U.S.-led forces are struggling against an increasingly potent insurgency.
U.S. officials in Washington said on Friday the Pentagon was ramping up delivery of military equipment long sought by the Pakistani army to fight militants.
A high-ranking Al Qaeda figure reportedly was killed Thursday in a U.S. drone aircraft attack in north Pakistan.
The attack, first reported by NBC News, was officially denied by Pakistani officials, though sources told Fox News that neither Usama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri were among those killed.
Pakistani media report six militants were killed in the attack, including four foreign fighters, a classification in the tribal areas that typically refers to Al Qaeda.
The attack was part of the expanded use of Predator drones recently authorized by the White House, sources told Fox News, though the drone attacks, which began during the Bush Administration, never have been officially confirmed because of political sensitivity in Pakistan.
The Obama administration reportedly is talking with Pakistan about expanding the program from Waziristan to Baluchistan, a controversial move since it is outside the tribal areas near the Afghanistan border.
Baluchistan is where Afghan Taliban leaders are believed to be hiding.
The administration's decision corresponds with Obama's announcement last week to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, lawmakers lashed out at Pakistan last week as an unreliable ally in the Afghan war that could spare the U.S. its bruising fight with Al Qaeda if it wanted.
"They don't seem to want a strategic relationship," New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said of the government in Islamabad. "They want the money. They want the equipment. But at the end of the day, they don't want a relationship that costs them too much."
A crucial ally in fighting the Al Qaeda terrorist network, Pakistan is also a major recipient of U.S. aid. President Obama and Congress recently approved a $7.5 billion aid package for economic and social programs in Pakistan in a bid to strengthen the civilian government there.
But many in Congress have grown skeptical that Islamabad is doing all it can to drive out Al Qaeda forces hiding along its mountainous Afghan border.
The attack, first reported by NBC News, was officially denied by Pakistani officials, though sources told Fox News that neither Usama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri were among those killed.
Pakistani media report six militants were killed in the attack, including four foreign fighters, a classification in the tribal areas that typically refers to Al Qaeda.
The attack was part of the expanded use of Predator drones recently authorized by the White House, sources told Fox News, though the drone attacks, which began during the Bush Administration, never have been officially confirmed because of political sensitivity in Pakistan.
The Obama administration reportedly is talking with Pakistan about expanding the program from Waziristan to Baluchistan, a controversial move since it is outside the tribal areas near the Afghanistan border.
Baluchistan is where Afghan Taliban leaders are believed to be hiding.
The administration's decision corresponds with Obama's announcement last week to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, lawmakers lashed out at Pakistan last week as an unreliable ally in the Afghan war that could spare the U.S. its bruising fight with Al Qaeda if it wanted.
"They don't seem to want a strategic relationship," New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said of the government in Islamabad. "They want the money. They want the equipment. But at the end of the day, they don't want a relationship that costs them too much."
A crucial ally in fighting the Al Qaeda terrorist network, Pakistan is also a major recipient of U.S. aid. President Obama and Congress recently approved a $7.5 billion aid package for economic and social programs in Pakistan in a bid to strengthen the civilian government there.
But many in Congress have grown skeptical that Islamabad is doing all it can to drive out Al Qaeda forces hiding along its mountainous Afghan border.