Afghanistan War News Updates -- December 1, 2009

U.S. Opts For Limited Surge -- Wall Street Journal

Large Buildup of Troops for Afghan Mission, but Curbs Sought on Budget, Duration

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has ordered a revamped war plan for Afghanistan that appears to endorse the military strategy of his top generals but will set limits on U.S. involvement in terms of duration, manpower and money, White House officials said Monday.

After a three-month review, the president delivers a televised prime-time address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Tuesday to publicly define his plan for the war. He is widely expected to announce he's committing around 30,000 new troops to fighting the Taliban. Eight U.S. allies also have committed to sending additional troops, which could total some 5,000, according to European and U.S. officials.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Obama Called for Fast Troop Deployment to Afghanistan -- New York Times
Marines to be first wave in new Afghanistan plan -- Yahoo News/AP
Obama to lay out long-awaited Afghan plan -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Obama to unveil new Afghan strategy -- Yahoo News/AFP
Obama Plans to Send 30,000 to 35,000 More Troops to Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Obama Issues Order for More Troops in Afghanistan -- New York Times
Obama Launches Afghanistan War Strategy Ahead of National Address -- Voice of America
Barack Obama to Order 34,000 Troops to Afghanistan -- Times Online
34,000 Troops Will be Sent to Afghanistan -- Washington Post
A Test for the Blocks Needed to Rebuild a Nation -- Washington Post
Obama Set to Sell Afghan War Strategy -- Washington Times
Obama taking reins of Afghan war -- CNN

The State of the War in Afghanistan -- New York Times

Obama, Karzai hold videoconference, talk strategy -- Yahoo News/AP
NATO announces change to Canadian area of responsibility in Kandahar -- Canadian Press
Added forces will be concentrated in southern Afghanistan -- L.A. Times
Kandahar: Taliban’s birthplace, Afghanistan’s crucible -- Stars And Stripes
Army Researchers Warn Against Tribal War in Afghanistan -- The Danger Room
Body of second missing soldier found in Afghanistan -- Reuters
Body of missing Virginia paratrooper found in Afghanistan -- Washington Post
US Military Deaths in Afghanistan Region at 849 -- New York Times/AP

Commentaries And Analysis

5 things to listen for in Obama's Afghanistan speech -- L.A. Times
A Tragic Mistake -- Bob Herbert, New York Times
John Kerry's Tora Bora Campaign -- Wall Street Journal editorial
What the US Can Achieve in Afghanistan, Despite Karzai -- Mark Moyar, Los Angeles Times
Paying for War -- Washington Post editorial.
Clear, Hold and Duct Tape -- David Brooks, New York Times