(Adds quotes, details and background)

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended additional troops be sent to Afghanistan to augment NATO forces, but no final decision has been made on the deployment, defense officials said on Monday.

Gates last week was considering the option of sending some 3,000 Marines to Afghanistan to thwart an expected spring offensive by the Taliban.

Officials said the Pentagon chief has since forwarded a recommendation on additional troops to the White House ahead of discussions with President George W. Bush. But they said Gates would not order a deployment without first consulting with Bush, who is visiting the Middle East until Wednesday.

"A recommendation has been forwarded for discussion. But at this point, no decision has been made. We're still waiting," Pentagon spokesman Army Lt. Col. Mark Wright told Reuters.

Wright declined to discuss details of the recommendation.

"The president looks forward to hearing from Secretary Gates on this important issue," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. "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."

Violence has surged in Afghanistan over the past two years, with the hardline Islamist Taliban fighting a guerrilla war in the south and east and carrying out high-profile suicide and car bombings across the country.

The United States has about 27,000 troops in Afghanistan -- the most since leading the 2001 invasion. About half serve in a 40,000-strong NATO-led force, while the rest conduct missions ranging from counterterrorism to training Afghan troops.

For months, Gates pressed NATO allies to provide more troops for Afghanistan. But after meeting allies in Scotland last month, he signaled a shift away from pushing them to make politically difficult decisions to provide combat troops.

A senior Pentagon official said the United States was expected to proceed with the deployment of some 3,000 Marines to make up for the NATO shortfall.

"It is widely anticipated that the secretary will soon approve a deployment of additional U.S. forces to Afghanistan to fulfill unmet NATO requirements," said a senior Pentagon official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

CNN reported on Monday that 3,200 Marines had been notified about an impending deployment to Afghanistan. The Marine Corps had no immediate comment. (Additional reporting by Caren Bohan; editing by Kristin Roberts)

AlertNet news is provided by