Gates endorses big expansion of Afghan army
China Daily | Updated: 2008-08-09 08:47
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has endorsed an Afghan government proposal to increase the size of its army by more than 50,000 troops.
The new plan will cost well over $10 billion. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said on Thursday officials are currently looking at ways to finance it. Options would include seeking money from NATO allies.
Morrell said the proposal would increase the size of the Afghan army from a planned 80,000 troops to roughly 122,000, plus 13,000 in support staff.
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