Radio Cadena Agramonte, June 6, 2011

US Spends Two Billion Dollars a Week in Afghanistan

According to US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, to take the soldiers out too quickly would put the achievements of the coalition headed by the US in the last 18 months in danger

The war in Afghanistan costs US taxpayers two billion dollars a week, according to calculations made by the Department of Defense Monday.

The information appeared in the digital edition of The New York Times, on a study of the US government to cut its military presence in Afghanistan.

The conflict represents an economic bleeding and the strategies of the new national security team for US President Barack Obama say a change is necessary to cut costs.

They also consider that conditions have changed since the killing of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, and want to increase the rhythm of return of US military forces.

According to US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, to take the soldiers out too quickly would put the achievements of the coalition headed by the US in the last 18 months in danger, after Obama ordered a reinforcement of 30,000 soldiers.

Obama is still considering a major reduction of troops, and he will probably make a speech on the issue this month.

Senator Dick Durbin, the second top Democratin the Senate, had stated it is necessary to end this war soon, and this spirit is gaining ground and is likely to increase in the run-up to the elections of 2012.

The National Security Council convoked a meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan for Monday.

The US has a total of 100,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, 90,000 forming part of the ISAF Force, led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which commands 132,400 soldiers in total. (Prensa Latina).

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