Troops to Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates indicated on Thursday that the plan is to send 20,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. The intent is to get thousands of troops into the country as soon as early as next spring. This supports the direction President-elect Obama campaigned for during his presidential campaign. Obama believes that the real war is in Afghanistan and not Iraq. Both Gates and General McKiernam indicate that there will be a sustained commitment in Afghanistan for the next three to four years. With Obama in the presidency will the focus change from Iraq to Afghanistan? Can troops just be pulled out of Iraq and moved to Afghanistan without repercussions? Can the transition happen quickly or need to be handled more slowly? Obama has campaigned for this transition, but will he be able to implement it immediately?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/world/asia/05gates.html?scp=3&sq=In%20Afghanistan,%20gates&st=cse