US President Barack Obama announces a troop surge for Afghanistan

Afghanistan has welcomed US President Obama's plans for a troop surge to fight a resurgent Taliban. In a widely anticipated speech, Obama said the US will send an additional 30 thousand troops. He also announced training Afghan forces will be a priority and that US troops will start pulling out of Afghanistan in mid 2011. Obama has urged his NATO allies to contribute more soldiers. The first US reinforcements will be sent as soon as next month.