Narrowing Down Options

" The last time the White House right now we're moments from now President Obama will be meeting again this is -- in eighth meeting in. The war council weighing the strategy in Afghanistan looking into ways -- we have been reporting on four options that are being. Sort of floated out there is that the commander in chief may be considering right now. Let's bring in our panel talk about those little bit. Police Jordan is a former communications director of National Security Council she just got back from living in Afghanistan. She's also former adviser to the secretary of state Condoleezza Rice Sam Young man is a White House reporter on the hill with the political take. All of this at least welcome Ian you spent a lot of time in Afghanistan and we look at these four conversions that are out there one is in crystals 40000 troops. I and the other was a sort of incrementally lower than that and they -- any options of counter insurgency. Versus counterterrorism. Which would be much smaller. Troop presence while on the lines of sending that John Kerry talked about and vice president Joe Biden talked about a one point. More or withdrawn as -- the source of options what do you think well there."

" We need you remember that general McCarron finished president Obama's hand picked commander. Until he's asking for forty fat 40000 troops I think that that's probably strong that what we need to do after all legit on the generally can certainly knows his staff. He you know led to capture Zarqawi Iraq he has just been at the forefront of counterinsurgency. Within the military."

" I -- Sam Sam when you look at the political ramifications here of this President Obama is taking his time as I've pointed out this is that eighth meeting. The war council you know how is that playing for him on Capitol Hill. And what you know the -- shouldn't he -- make you believe this take all the time -- isn't is talking about putting American lives at risk."

" I think to a large extent the president is too great bill. Boxed in by by some the beliefs -- we've seen just general Chris -- for 40000 troops. I think anything less or any any other kind of strategy will will provide Republican opposition with a great deal of ammunition. To say he's not listening to commanders on the ground. I know the president I think I think the president is being very deliberate and taking his time and time forgot what the right strategy is -- this could come to define his presidency. But but I think he I think he's simply being pushed to one and one very clear direction."

" What do you think about timing when you look at the TV six is that the trip to Asia coming up. Thanksgiving after that in this country when if you were gonna hear a decision from them I think it will be at least the beginning in September and December it's gonna take -- December he had with -- you look at how he's going to Asia tomorrow. He won't be President Obama will not be back until next Thursday -- Thanksgiving. So I think they're definitely taking any time in four new options for President Obama the way general McChrystal gave his strategy over three months."

" When you're you know what are your observations having space -- a lot of time that over the last year just getting back in September. When you read in the papers what's going -- you here you know is from here inside. Channels what's going on but woody what is your belief based on what you -- know what needs to be done."

" It's extremely disconcerting we have to remember that ended the day the military's going to lead this effort -- in military presents. This plan I think that we need to -- Ali and are all out because it's really. We don't need to put more. Men and women in harm's way we're not fully behind the strategy."

" And in what about the town but -- the story today that says they know al-Qaeda there might be less fewer than a hundred al-Qaeda operatives. Right now in Afghanistan. And that there are tens of thousands of members of the Taliban. And that there's some loyalty shifting there in terms of the in the Taliban leader Afghanistan versus the Taliban leader Pakistan all of that. Italy if it is it is they're changing situation well on the ground we need to be more aware of."

" Linking the perceptions matter with with Afghan people who ultimately if we're waging a counterinsurgency. Where it's we're trying to win hearts and minds and if we are putting in the effort. -- to the Afghan people that we're gonna need there and then we're going to be committed partners for the long term you know what he's an incentive to go with us versus the Taliban hill. They're going to be around and they're willing and they proved it night."

" Sam you know talk to me a little bit about this incremental is that we heard Oliver north's but speaking about moments ago. And that's gonna be clearly that would be the conservative comeback they're gonna say you know we made this mistake before. We can't go incrementally but the president is is say. You know I sit down I talked all of my advisers were looking at the different options are trying to figure out what will actually work on the ground."

" Right now I think that's one the most important thing is being lawsuits not a matter just making it assistants also a matter of explaining and it announcing -- explaining this decision. The president's gonna have to be very clear the American people to the men and women in uniform. Why he's doing what he's doing any better you know I think that's why it's taking -- time because he's got to be very sure about what he's done before he starts explaining that the American people."

" You know anything is and president of -- spoken so much about -- having -- multi country effort in everything he does. -- traveling around the world talking other countries there is some speculation an -- to speculation at this point that that 35034000. Number that shy of the 40000. That he's gonna call for other countries to make up that difference to prove. That he is calling for group participation in this from NATO and from our other allies to think they're gonna be there for a summons."

" I don't know and we heard a lot of lip service about how President Obama. Has additional credibility with -- and he instead they certainly didn't step up last April at NATO summit and also doing necessarily want NATO to step up. We're seating half the country now and it's basically known that some tornado partnership started setting up to the plate so we have to be very careful with what we asked for and how. Tonight police thank you very much Sam young men in Washington thank you very much."