WASHINGTON (AFP) –
President Barack Obama has given fateful orders likely to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan in a political gamble meant to forge an eventual US exit from a costly and gruelling war.
"The commander in chief has issued the orders," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday, as Obama briefed world leaders on his new Afghan strategy, a day before making a major televised address to the American people.
The plan emerged from an exhaustive policy review amid extreme weariness of the war among Americans, and as supporters warned Obama could be risking his presidency by deploying thousands more men to a Vietnam-style quagmire.
Obama is expected to order between 30,000 and 35,000 more troops to bolster the US effort to repel a resurgent Taliban, secure major cities and fast-track training for Afghan security forces, alongside a separate civilian aid surge.
The president will also assure Americans and regional leaders he will not underwrite an indefinite and costly stay in Afghanistan for US troops.
"This is not an open-ended commitment," Gibbs said, painting the plan as an eventual pathway for US troops to come home.
"We are there to partner with the Afghans, to train the Afghan national security forces, the army and the police, so that they can provide security for their country and wage a battle against an unpopular insurgency."
The White House said Obama delivered orders marking the most crucial leadership test of his presidency in the Oval Office so far, on Sunday, after telling top aides of his final decision.
He met generals and top security aides in the Oval Office.
He then spoke directly by secure video-link to Afghan war commander General Stanley McChrystal, who warned earlier this year the conflict would be lost without more troops -- and US ambassador to Kabul Karl Eikenberry.
Obama will address Americans in a major televised speech to cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point at 8:00 pm Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday).
He will tell a nation weary of years of conflict and humbled by the worst economic crisis in generations, why it must risk yet more lives and wealth in a war launched after the September 11 attacks in 2001.
His message will be compelling listening for voters, lawmakers and soldiers, US allies, leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents battling Washington in a bloody eight-year war.
Many of Obama's core political supporters, and key Democrats worried about ballooning budget deficits, are wary of more troop deployments. Republicans have however demanded the president answer the generals' calls for more help.
As he launched a public relations offensive to market the new strategy, Obama called French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday.
Defence Minister Herve Morin said late Monday France could bolster its role in Afghanistan by providing more army and police training as well as reconstruction aid but is unlikely to send more troops.
The French daily Le Monde reported on Monday that Washington had asked France to contribute 1,500 extra troops to Afghanistan.
Morin declined to comment on the specific figure from the report but confirmed "the United States is asking the Europeans for more troops."
Obama also spoke with by secure video link with Gordon Brown after the British prime minister announced he would increase British regular troop numbers by 500 to 9,500 in December.
Obama will also talk to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
Obama and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai on Tuesday discussed the plan, Karzai's office said.
The two presidents held an hour-long video conference to discuss aspects of the new strategy and "security, political, military and economic issues were discussed in detail", the palace said in a statement.
It gave no further details.
The US leader told Australian Prime Minsiter Kevin Rudd of his plans in person, during Oval Office talks.
Rudd pledged send more police trainers and civilian aid experts to Afghanistan, saying his country was in "for the long haul" but did not pledge more troops beyond 1,550 Australia has already committed.
Consultations with key players in Congress, where some Democrats have expressed skepticism about new troop deployments, were taking place on Monday and Tuesday.
Some 35,000 American soldiers were fighting the Taliban-led insurgency when Obama took office. After an initial boost in February there are now about 68,000.
More than 900 American soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan and October was the deadliest month since the start of the war in 2001 with 74 US soldiers killed.
Obama Sunday spoke to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by telephone, then met Defense Secretary Robert Gates; Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff; General James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the joint chiefs; White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and General David Petraeus, head of US central command.
