The New Media Journal | Obama Spars with McCain on Afghanistan, Rejects 'Biden Option'

The New Media Journal | Obama Spars with McCain on Afghanistan, Rejects 'Biden Option': "President Obama has made it clear to key congressional power-brokers that his administration's rethink of US military strategy in Afghanistan will not see a significant reduction of troop numbers and a narrower counter-terrorist focus on al-Qaeda.

Mr. Obama met key Republican and Democrat leaders in the White House State Dining Room last night to discuss a request from his top commander on the ground for up to 40,000 extra troops to help defeat the Taliban insurgency.

The meeting, on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the first US air strikes against al-Qaeda targets in Afghanistan, were an attempt to make clear that the decision Mr Obama faces is one that transcends normal party politics.

But the meeting produced a sharp exchange of views between Mr. Obama and his former rival for the presidency, the Republican senator John McCain, who effectively accused the President of dithering while US troops remain under fire.

According to people at the meeting, Senator McCain told Mr. Obama that he should not move at a 'leisurely pace' while US commanders wait for a decision on troop levels. The comment drew a sharp response from the President, who replied that nobody felt more urgency than he did about the war and there would be nothing leisurely about his decision.

During a 90-minute discussion, Mr Obama did not show his hand on possible troop increases. But he did make clear that that the war would not be reduced to a narrowly defined counter-terrorism effort in the border areas with Pakistan, a strategy that has been linked with his Vice-President, Joe Biden...

Mr. Obama has already added 21,000 troops to the force in Afghanistan so far this year, raising the total to 68,000, and many Democrats are openly opposed to any further increase.

According to both Republican and Democratic aides, Mr Obama may be considering a more modest injection of troops – closer to 10,000 than 40,000 – but the White House insists that no decision has yet been made.

“We do recognize that he has a tough decision, and he wants ample time to make a good decision,” said House Republican leader John Boehner. “Frankly, I support that, but we need to remember that every day that goes by, the troops that we do have there are in greater danger.”"