Obama Plans to Boost U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, Set Benchmarks

President Barack Obama plans to send 4,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to train local forces and set benchmarks for progress in battling militants there and in Pakistan, administration officials said. The president’s new strategy for turning the corner in the eight-year-old war, to be announced this morning, comes amid increased insurgent activity and before Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial elections scheduled for Aug. 20.