Speaking today to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Centcom Commander Gen. Joseph Votel confirmed that he "expects" that more US ground troops will be deployed to Afghanistan soon, though he insisted the exact details are still being worked out.

Votel indicated that the additional troops, once sent, would be used to "improve" the capabilities of Afghan forces on the ground. He said he also agrees with Gen. Nicholson, who last month said he wants "a few thousand" more troops in Afghanistan.

The US was supposed to have completed its pullout from Afghanistan by now, though this was repeatedly pushed back during the Obama Administration's waning years, and ultimately halted. All indications from Pentagon figures since are that they envision troop levels growing from this point.