Minnesota war vets voice support of troops

Associated Press

Last update: November 5, 2009 - 6:11 AM

MINNEAPOLIS - A handful of Minnesota veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will join other vets in Washington, D.C., Thursday to call for more support for troops in Afghanistan.

Some veterans from Minneapolis and St. Paul plan to meet with elected officials and White House officials to urge support for Gen. Stanley McChrystal's troop recommendations for the war in Afghanistan.

McChrystal recommends up to 80,000 more troops in Afghanistan. President Barack Obama is considering several options, including McChrystal's preference of about 40,000 additional U.S. forces next year.

Thursday's event is the third annual lobbying day for Vets for Freedom, a nonpartisan Iraq and Afghanistan veterans organization. Last year, hundreds of veterans went to Capitol Hill to support the surge of troops in Iraq.