http://www.opendemocracy.net/the_fire_next_time.jsp Comments for "The fire next time, Paul Rogers " en http://www.opendemocracy.net/the_fire_next_time.jsp <font class="articleTxtBody"><p align="justify">The extent of the United States predicament across the Middle East, and the policies being introduced to meet it, is increasing the risk of a crisis with Iran. The nature of the predicament is reflected in the decision to send additional military personnel to Afghanistan as well as Iraq, and in new priorities for equipment geared to counterinsurgency. </p><div align="justify"> </div><p align="justify">After the current additional deployment of troops, US forces in Afghanistan will exceed 25,500, at least 7,000 more than in 2005. Many of these form part of the 34,000-strong International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) force under Nato control, but others operate independently, meaning that total foreign forces in the country now exceed 40,000 (see &quot;Troops Keep Comin&#39; to Afghanistan&quot;<em>, </em>AFP, <a href="http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051107O.shtml" target="_blank">10 May 2007</a>).</p>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/the_fire_next_time.jsp" class="read-more" title="Read the rest of this posting.">Read the rest of this post...</a><p><a href="http://www.opendemocracy.net/the_fire_next_time.jsp">read more</a></p> http://www.opendemocracy.net/the_fire_next_time.jsp#comment conflicts Creative Commons normal global security Wed, 30 May 2007 12:56:10 +0100 admin 19626 at http://www.opendemocracy.net