Washington, November 24: President Obama met with his war cabinet before he decides on Afghanistan.
As Americans are losing confidence in the Afghan war, US President Barack Obama is expected to announce his decision on a troop surge as early as next week.
The US leader met his national security team on Monday at the ninth White House gathering on the eight-year-old war to decide on the abysmal situation in Afghanistan.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Monday “Obviously the first possible time would be some time next week,” referring to when an official decision would be announced.
General Stanley McChrystal, commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, has asked for around 40,000 extra US troops in addition to the current 68,000 American forces deployed in the war-torn country.
National Public Radio, citing unnamed sources, reported that Obama plans to make the announcement in an address to the nation on December 1.
An administration official said Monday’s meeting could possibly be the last time Obama will consult his team before making the announcement.
Polls show the American public fear a deepening military involvement could sidetrack Obama’s presidency, just as Vietnam did Lyndon Johnson’s in the 1960s.
The military, however, strongly favors a surge and Obama risks being denounced by Republican critics as weak on national security if he refuses his commander’s request.
More than 800 US soldiers were killed in Afghanistan and the number of casualties is rising. October was the deadliest month for US forces there since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.
–Agencies