Weighty Decision

" We also learned today the President Obama has already received the Pentagon's fourth recommendation. For Afghanistan. It comes while the administration debate debates what to do there as the US enters its ninth year of involvement. And victory seems elusive White House correspondent Wendell Goler has the story."

" These days revealed President Obama had a copy of general standing with crystals for request last week when it was -- Copenhagen to -- Chicago's Olympics bid and met with the US commander aboard Air Force One before coming home. On this day the eighth anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan. Mr. Obama held his third strategy review and -- suggested the strategy part of the process is almost complete."

" We're getting there again this is I'm saying this before. Six hours meetings that have to take place in the next. A little over two days."

" Robert Gibbs said the talks could turn to troop numbers by Friday but Republicans continued to hammer the president's refusal to immediately grant general look -- request for thirty to 40000 more troops."

" And -- mind that decision was made back in March which is is support the recommendations of our commanders in the field that was the president who decided. It's the gentleman coastal ought to be the person ought to be the commander on the ground."

" Republican critics say -- only part of general look crystals request would be the worst option. Raising the US presence in Afghanistan but not enough to secure victory. But aides insist the president is doing things in the proper order I think we've done and we've all seen what happens when you. Three judge what's gonna happen dedicate a certain number of troops. And then come up with a strategy. There are now twice as many US troops in Afghanistan is there were last year and casualties are close to twice as high. There are six times as many troops as there -- in 2003. And nearly six times as many casualties. Public support for the war has fallen and experts say soldiers are getting tired well now --"

" units in their fifth sixth and seventh rotations as they get ready to go to Afghanistan. So there's a certain amount of fatigue and war weariness that's beginning to affect the troops right now."

" Meanwhile retired British military officers -- telling Prime Minister Gordon Brown to send more troops and NATO Secretary General says other alliance members beside the US need to step up. And since the president's ruled out actually reducing US troops military experts say the eight year old war could last a lot longer."

" A successful counterinsurgency campaign takes years if not a decade or more. So it's likely that if we're going to see this thing through we're going to be in Afghanistan along while."

" The White House said -- good portion of today's strategy review would focus on what happens -- the civilian level the government level officials said. The allegations of corruption against Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the recent election really hurt America's options but he remains that country's president. And the US will continue working with him. Brett -- a lot of the north lawn Wendell thank you the Milledge."