In the first major military decision of his presidency, U.S. President Barack Obama is significantly strengthening the combat presence of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
A total of 17,000 extra troops, with the biggest contingent coming from the elite U.S. Marine Corps, will arrive in Afghanistan by spring and summer. They will be ready for the upsurge of fighting with the Taliban, which usually comes with the warm weather, and will provide additional security for Afghanistan's national elections in August.
Akbar Ayazi, the director of RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, explains what the troop surge will mean.
