From the New York Times: As the Obama administration ponders whether to commit more American troops to Afghanistan, Germany on Friday announced a modest increase in its contingent and Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain said he was pressing European and other allies to deploy 5,000 more soldiers there…

“I have taken the responsibility of asking others in Europe and outside Europe if they will back this strategy of partnering the Afghan forces, mentoring the Afghan forces,” Mr. Brown said. He was speaking towards the end of a week during which he taken a series of political blows over Afghanistan, accused in public by the mother of a slain soldier of failing to provide equipment to protect British soldiers from the resurgent Taliban…

Referring to allied countries which he did not identify by name, Mr. Brown said: “I am asking them to help, I think we could probably get another 5,000 forces into Afghanistan from” NATO and other countries “and Britain will be part of that.” Mr. Brown has already given a conditional pledge to send a further 500 soldiers to Afghanistan.” (photo: Office of the Prime Minister)