Brown Sends More Troops

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Wednesday that he will send more troops to Afghanistan, stepping into an uncomfortable debate between President Barack Obama and his commander for the area, General Stanley McChrystal. At the moment the White House is debating whether or not a troop increase is necessary, Brown's decision takes a firm stance towards escalation. British officials told The Wall Street Journal that Brown has found "a lot of common ground" with McChrystal, although Downing Street is careful to say that they don't intend to interfere with the American policy debate. Brown will send an additional 500 troops to Afghanistan, bringing the British contingent to 9,500. The Americans have 68,000 there and McChrystal is advocating for 40,000 more.