Administration Lengthens Tours of Duty in Afghanistan

The Bush administration has pledged $10.6 billion in aid to Afghanistan and said it will maintain troop levels there. But because soldiers are in short supply these days, the commitment will have to be met by troops already deployed, 3,200 of whom will have their tours extended by four months.

BBC:

Ms [Condoleezza] Rice made the announcement on the eve of a Nato meeting on Afghanistan in Brussels, which she is due to attend.

Earlier the Pentagon said thousands of US forces would stay on in Afghanistan.

It said 3,200 men of the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division would remain in the country for an extra four months after their tour of duty is meant to end.

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wikipedia.org

Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, who will have to serve four months in Afghanistan beyond the previously expected end of their tours, board a Chinook helicopter.