Additional troops will facilitate general’s strategy

President Obama’s decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan pleased many military officials, who said they believe the bolstered forces will be able to execute a more robust counterinsurgency strategy.

With two decisions to increase troop levels this year, Obama has nearly doubled American combat power in Afghanistan, Pentagon officials noted Tuesday. And while Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal did not get the 40,000 additional troops he reportedly requested, one Defense official said McChrystal would not have to scale back any of his plans to take on Taliban forces in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Officials said McChrystal will be able make up some of the difference with additional allied deployments. U.S. officials hope allies will send 5,000 more troops.

Still, the Defense official noted that not all allied forces are equal. After years of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. troops are better trained and more battle-hardened than other forces. They also have more flexible rules of engagement than other NATO soldiers.

Obama’s announcement Tuesday that the U.S. would swiftly deploy thousands more troops to Afghanistan included a pledge to begin bringing them home in 18 months.

Administration officials said transfers of authority, beginning in July 2011, will be based on the training of Afghan security forces and conditions on the ground.

Some military officials were concerned about the possibility of a hard date for returning troops and turning security responsibilities over to Afghan forces. But by setting a date for the withdrawal to begin and not outlining how swiftly it must proceed, some officials said, the plan preserves flexibility.

“Setting a time when we start is important for us and for the Afghans,” said David Sedney, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Afghanistan and Pakistan. “But this is a tough fight and to . . . set an end point would be not consistent with the facts on the ground. The situation is very dynamic.”

Said one military officer, “We understand the president’s intent, which is to end this war.”

-- Julian E. Barnes julian.barnes@latimes.com