Checking facts on Afghanistan

President Barack Obama announced an increase in troops for Afghanistan this week, renewing debate on a complicated area of American foreign policy.

We looked into a few different facts we heard during the discussion.

Rep. John Murtha criticized the buildup, saying the United States would have

more troops in Afghanistan than Russia

did during the 1980s. We found his claim Barely True.

Rep. Alan Grayson said, “In the past year, more than 20 percent of Americans have

changed their mind about the war in Afghanistan

. They conclude we shouldn’t be there.” We rated that Barely True.

Obama said, “In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were sent here from

the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan

to commit new acts of terror.” We rated that Mostly True.