WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has approved adding some 17,000 U.S. troops for the war in Afghanistan which his closest military aids say the U.S. is not winning.
Obama says the increase is necessary to "stabilize a deteriorating situation." He says it had not received the "strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires."
Officials say about 8,000 troops from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade from Camp Lejeune, N.C., are expected to go first, in the spring.
About 4,000 soldiers from the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, an Army Stryker brigade from Fort Lewis in Washington state would follow in the summer.
About 5,000 support forces will also be sent. They'll be identified later.
A senior White House official says the planned troop deployment does not preclude sending more forces in the future.
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