WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military is planning to send hundreds of new troops to Afghanistan to increase security before the Oct. 9 election, officials said Wednesday.
Guerrillas have stepped up attacks in the final weeks before the election, defying the presence of some 18,000 coalition troops and the Afghan National Army.
Two military officials, who discussed the potential deployment only on the condition of anonymity, said the new troops have not been selected. One of the officials, who is at U.S. Central Command, said the new deployment would probably be battalion-strength, numbering several hundred troops.
The remnants of the Taliban have vowed to disrupt the presidential election. Twelve election workers are among more than 900 people killed in Afghan political violence this year.
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-afghan-elections,0,3782009.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines