Pentagon extends Marine deployment in Afghanistan

The Pentagon has extended the deployment of 1,250 Marines in Afghanistan for 30 days until November to keep up the momentum of training of Afghan security forces, a spokesman said Tuesday. The marines, part of a 3,500-strong contingent sent earlier this year for seven months, are training Afghan police in the southern and western parts of the country.
"They have been extended to maintain the momentum of ongoing training of Afghan forces," said Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wright. The Pentagon had previously extended the deployment of a 2,200-member Marine expeditionary unit that is fighting in the south for 30 days until November.
Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said he wants to beef up the 34,000-strong US force in Afghanistan "sooner rather than later," but he acknowledged last week that only about 200 extra troops are being added at the moment.