The Washington Post reports as many as 9,000 Marines are beginning final preparations to deploy to Afghanistan. The extra Marines will be sent to Afghanistan soon after President Obama outlines his new war strategy on Tuesday during a speech at the US Military Academy at West Point. Obama is expected to call for 30,000 to 35,000 new troops in a phased deployment over the next twelve to eighteen months. Meanwhile, US officials are pressing NATO for an additional 10,000 troops to augment the US troop surge.