WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has endorsed a five-year, $17 billion plan to increase the size of the Afghan army by about 50,000 soldiers.
The move follows a proposal from the Afghanistan government, and the price tag includes the costs for routine Afghan army combat operations and upgrading the air corps, beginning in 2010, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Friday.
He said it costs about $1 billion a year to increase forces by 10,000, and another $100,000 to sustain them.
Officials are looking at ways to finance it. Options include seeking money from NATO allies.
Morrell said the proposal would increase the size of the Afghan army from a planned 80,000 soldiers to roughly 122,000, plus 13,000 in support staff. Currently, there are about 65,000 soldiers in the Afghan army, and that total is expected to hit the 80,000 goal next year, Morrell said.
In addition, Gates is poised to approve a plan that would give Army Gen. David McKiernan broader control over U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Currently, McKiernan commands the NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan, which includes about 15,000 U.S. forces. Under the new proposal, McKiernan also would control the additional U.S. forces in Afghanistan who are training the Afghan army and police.
There are about 34,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
