"
U.S. military chiefs plan to present recommendations on troop strength and strategy in Afghanistan to President Barack Obama on Friday as White House deliberations reach an end stagehttp://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Afghanistan-Pakistan/idUSTRE59J59D20091029, Pentagon officials said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General James Cartwright will be joined at the White House meeting by
leaders of the Army,
Marine Corps.,
Navy and
Air Force, a sign Obama was delving into details of troop readiness and availability before deciding on numbers.
"They will present those views to the president, collectively and individually," an official said. "The chiefs' views in regard to resources will be an important factor."
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell described the strategy review as "at the end stages" and said
the White House had made clear it wanted to wait until after Afghanistan's November 7 presidential run-off election before making final announcements.
After visiting Dover Air Force Base overnight to witness the arrival of the flag-draped caskets of 18 soldiers and federal agents killed in Afghanistan this week, Obama told reporters:
"Obviously the burden that both our troops and our families bear in any wartime situation is going to bear on how I see these conflicts."