WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will consider a proposal to send some 3,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to thwart any spring offensive by Taliban militants, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

"He will take it and consider it thoroughly before approving it," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said. The troops would be provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, he said. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, editing by Todd Eastham)

AlertNet news is provided by