As part of an initial troop surge overseen by General McChrystal, the US has already committed to boosting its forces from 31,000 to 68,000 this year.
If President Bush had listened to Gen. Eric K. Shinseki's advice on the initial troop levels in Iraq, a surge might never have been necessary four years after the initial invasion.
But with the president standing firm on his plans to veto any language on the timing of the war, Democratic leaders stuck to binding dates for initial troop pullouts.
Next month, the administration will announce the size of its initial troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Ideally, the initial 1,000 troops would be cut on the basis of an assessment of the threat from al-Shabab.
In their initial skirmishes, troops used rubber bullets and tear gas against the protesters, whose numbers swelled later in the day as reinforcements arrived by car and motorbike.
In initial skirmishes, troops used rubber bullets and tear gas on protesters, whose numbers swelled as reinforcements arrived by car and motorbike.
Mr. Gates made clear that the initial American troop withdrawals ordered for July by President Obama would be limited, perhaps to no more than several thousand troops.
Initial contingents of troops from Senegal, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo are now due to arrive within days.
After this initial reduction, our troops will continue coming home at a steady pace as Afghan Security forces move into the lead.
"Initial reports from troops on the ground indicate that this may be a case of mistaken identity on both sides," the statement said.
