Maybe Bush is planning on being around and in control in 2009, whether in person or by proxy.

Gates: U.S. to send more troops to Afghanistan

Troops will be deployed regardless of Iraq situation, defense secretary says

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the U.S. intends to send many more combat forces to Afghanistan next year, regardless of whether troop levels in Iraq are reduced further.

It’s the first time the Bush administration has made such a commitment for 2009.

Gates was speaking to reporters on Friday while flying to Muscat, Oman, from a NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania. The Pentagon chief said that President Bush made the troop pledge during the summit.

Gates said Bush was not specific about the number of additional troops that would go to Afghanistan. The U.S. now has about 31,000 troops there.