17,000 more soldiers to fight Taliban insurgency.

Afghan officials have welcomed President Obama’s decision to send 17,000 more soldiers to fight a Taliban lead insurgency but ordinary people are more skeptical. They were heading for Iraq but now they're coming here. This troop surge is the first big military decision of Barack Obama's presidency. It signals a shift in focus for US foreign policy. Afghanistan is now the priority. This is a time when Kabul is struggling to cope with a growing Taliban insurgency. Col. Mohammad Eshaq, Ministry of Defence, "When there are fewer international troops, the Afghan army inevitably gets involved in the fight against terrorism, and other military activities instead of getting on with their training as they are supposed to." But though the government is calling it a positive move, many locals feel differently. Khalid Sherzai, Student, "No, I am not happy. The deployment of American military forces has only caused trouble for the Afghan people, nothing else." Zia Ahmad Ahmadi, Kabul resident, "Well, we can all see what they have achieved with the existing troops. We have our own national police and national army. We can build up Afghanistan ourselves." Najibullah Hotak, Kabul resident, "The Americans coming to secure Afghanistan doesn't help us. It won't bring security; it will only make it worse." That's a prediction the Americans are determined to disprove when the new troops including 8,000 marines start arriving in late spring. It's hoped they can offer a much-needed security boost in time for Afghan elections in the summer.