Send two additional brigades to Afghanistan

Obama orders brigades to Afghanistan

Updated: Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 | By Angie Drobnic Holan

President Obama issued an order Feb. 17, 2009, to send two additional brigades to Afghanistan.

"This increase is necessary to stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, which has not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently requires," Obama said.

He also recognized "the extraordinary strain that this deployment places on our troops and military families. I honor their service, and will give them the support they need."

Obama often said during the campaign that Afghanistan required more troops and attention than it was receiving from the Bush administration. (Read our previous campaign coverage .) Obama said the United States "had taken our eye off the ball" by invading Iraq instead of concentrating on Afghanistan.

"Our troops have fought valiantly there, but Iraq has deprived them of the support they need — and deserve," Obama said in a speech on Aug. 1, 2007. "As a result, parts of Afghanistan are falling into the hands of the Taliban, and a mix of terrorism, drugs and corruption threatens to overwhelm the country. As president, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to reinforce our counterterrorism operations and support NATO's efforts against the Taliban."

In his Feb. 17 action, Obama said he would deploy a Marine Expeditionary Brigade during the spring of 2009 and an Army Stryker Brigade with support troops by the summer. That's two, just as he said he would. Promise Kept.

Finally, we want to note that our ruling here only covers Obama's pledge to send two brigades. We'll use Promise No. 148 to rate whether he equips them properly .

Sources:

White House Web site, Statement by the President on Afghanistan , Feb. 17, 2009

PolitiFact.com, Obama ballyhoos Afghan stance , July 22, 2008