Strategic Meeting

" President Obama met with his national security brain trust today as the administration continues to try to formulate a new strategy for increasingly -- be increasingly difficult war in Afghanistan. Senior White House correspondent Major Garrett tells us who was there and what the objectives war."

" Vice president Joe Biden Defense Secretary Robert Gates joint chiefs chairman Mike Mullen CIA director Leon Panetta. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Afghanistan Pakistan envoy Richard Holbrooke among the heavyweight contingent assemble for the president's high stakes strategy debate. On the future of the Afghan war. The White House released this photo of the situation room session the second of five on the president's Dockett one goal define success -- the."

" American people. One and we'll demanded and I think as will the president understand. And for all of all of those involved understand why we're there what we're doing. Benchmarks for measuring that progress. And moving forward."

" Participating via secure video conference the president's hand -- general in Afghanistan standing crystal and -- Afghanistan ambassador Karl I can -- The big military debating whether to send more US troops or reduce them and rely mainly on unmanned predator airstrikes. Biden is said to favor fewer US troops and more aerial attacks gates opposes this approach has his spokesman outlined moments before the White House meeting and the that he does not think that is. A path to success in Afghanistan I think we've tried that before. With the little to no success in fact some would argue that we paid the price forward on nine elevenths another problem dealing with rampant corruption in the Afghan government now led by President Hamid Karzai. His reelection remains in doubt among accusations of vote fraud NATO Secretary General once in new non corruption contract linked to future financial assistance."

" We need to. As friends and fight for and against corruption and then we must quote -- the Afghan government accountable. Two. Its international obligations and or so to each obligations as heavy as the Afghan people the White House agrees we won't be different. And at some point -- it is going to be incumbent upon the Afghans. To be able to. Administer again that base level of government. Without corruption."

" a strategy session meeting has just concluded you know some Republicans have accused the White House and dragging its feet on this whole Afghan policy. The number two house Republican Eric Cantor is gone so far to say this delayed jeopardizes the safety of American forces. Today Robert Gibbs fired back saying that Kantor was -- last September. When the then general in Afghanistan David McCarron has been President Bush for 30000 additional troops he called cancer silence then. And accusations now political game playing he says this debate and the American people deserve much better. Major thank you."