State Troops Await Call To Afghanistan

The Associated Press

TULSA, OK -- Military officials in Oklahoma say they haven't learned yet whether the state's troops will be part of the troop buildup in Afghanistan.

About 38,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, and President Barack Obama has pledged to send another 17,000 to augment that force. About two-thirds of the additional troops already have been identified.

Last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered the deployment of 8,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., to Afghanistan by late spring. He ordered another 4,000 troops from Washington to deploy by midsummer.

The remaining 5,000 additional troops to support those combat forces will receive deployment orders at a later date.

Oklahoma National Guard spokesman Col. Pat Scully says there's been no word yet from the Pentagon on whether any of the state's Guard troops will be needed.