More U.S. troops headed to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Additional U.S. troops will be deployed to Afghanistan beginning in November, U.S. President George Bush announced Tuesday.

"In November, a Marine battalion that was scheduled to deploy to Iraq will instead deploy to Afghanistan," Bush said during a speech before the National Defense University. "It will be followed in January by an Army combat brigade."

"The mission of these forces will be to work with Afghan forces to provide security for the Afghan people, protect Afghanistan's infrastructure and democratic institutions and help ensure access to services like education and healthcare," he said.

As in Iraq, U.S. troops will encourage Afghan security forces and tribal leaders to take leading roles in Afghanistan's direction and leadership, Bush said.

"The Taliban and al-Qaida will not be allowed to return to power," Bush said. "The terrorists will suffer the same fate in Afghanistan that they are now suffering in Iraq -- they will be defeated."

Even as it assists in Afghanistan, the United States "must also help the government of Pakistan defeat Taliban and al-Qaida fighters hiding in remote border regions of that country," Bush said.

Defeating terrorists and extremists in in Pakistan's interests because they pose a "mortal threat" to the country's future, Bush said.

Their defeat also is Pakistan's responsibility, he said, "because every nation has an obligation to govern its own territory and make certain that it does not become a safe haven for terror."