Nobel Peace Price Winner Barack Obama To Send 40,000 Troops To Afghanistan

CNN.com:

President Obama has informed several top diplomatic and military officials about his decision regarding new U.S. strategy and troop levels in Afghanistan, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday.

Obama called Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday to tell her about his decision, Gibbs said. The president later met in the Oval Office with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, top U.S. Middle East military commander Gen. David Petraeus and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, among others.

Obama also informed his top military commander in Afghanistan -- Gen. Stanley McChrystal -- and Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Kabul.

Obama gave orders to implement the new strategy during the Oval Office meeting, Gibbs said.

On Tuesday, Obama will travel to West Point, New York, to announce his decision on a request by McChrystal for up to 40,000 additional troops.

Obama is expected to send more than 30,000 U.S. troops and seek further troop commitments from NATO allies as part of a counterinsurgency strategy to wipe out al Qaeda elements and stabilize the country while training Afghan forces.

So Mr. Hope and Change We Can Believe In, a man who once promised the world that he'd withdraw most of our troops soon within his presidency, is now increasing the troop count in Afghanistan by almost 50% over the next year and change. Now that sounds like the kind of move a "war President" would make....kind of like Barry's predecessor. Funny how different the game looks when you're the one now in charge of calling the plays.