The war against the Taliban forces has not reached its end yet, as U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced on Monday that 3,200 Marines will prepare for a possible move to Afghanistan in April this year, as to supplement the NATO forces in the area, which would then reach 30,000 soldiers, the largest number since the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

As it appears, United States officials grew concern over the Taliban attack on Monday at the Serena Hotel in Kabul, when an explosion killed at least six persons, one of which was an American citizen. According to the latest statements, the Kabul incident could signal the beginning of a new era of Taliban attacks.   

The families of 2,200 members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and 1,000 members of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment based in Twentynine Palms, Calif. have been notified of the decision, although no formal deployment orders have been signed yet. At the same time, President Bush’s arrival from the Middle East is still expected in order for the decision to materialize.

Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said according to Reuters: “President Bush is committed to helping the Afghan people deal with the Taliban and other extremists who continue to take innocent life and attempt to derail Afghanistan’s progress.”

The decision came as a result of the increasing number of violence acts that have spread all over Afghanistan, from car bombings and suicide attacks, to the ongoing war in the south and the east of the country, led by Taliban extremists.  

Another reason for the United States to send additional troops could be the refusal of NATO to supplement their forces even more, after the meeting that took place last month in Scotland. There are approximately 27,000 troops in Afghanistan at this time, the largest since the 2001 events.