US Afghan Plan: 4K More Troops, Help From Iran

When President Obama unveils his strategy for Afghanistan tomorrow, he will for the first time ask Iran to help bring peace to the region, Marc Ambinder writes for the Atlantic. Obama may not mention Iran by name, but he will ask neighboring nations to form a group to mediate disputes and lay out long-term goals. “It will be clear, in any event, that Iran ought to be included in the group,” writes Ambinder.

The plan also calls for 4,000 additional troops on top of the surge of 17,000 already announced. The new forces will train the Afghan military and police. The plan “emphasizes counterterrorism as the primary mission of US policy,” writes Ambinder. It also makes clear that financial aid to the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan will be dependent on results. (More President Obama stories.)