Obama May Send More Troops to Afghanistan

The Pentagon Friday allowed release of video showing how much more capable anti-American extremists are becoming in Afghanistan. At the same time, President Obama held another top level strategy session, closing in on his decision about how many more U.S. troops to send to that war.

This time President Obama sat down to talk Afghanistan with his top military men. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines.
The President's Afghan decision process is almost over.

"I think it's nearing its conclusion, yes," said White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs. The generals want 40,000 more forces. A senior democrat says Mr. Obama ought to send them.

"I hope that he will listen to those in charge. He has an excellent team," said democratic representative Ike Shelton of Missouri. In fact the president is in charge. He's ordered a province by province analysis, to see if the Afghans can do more.

But the government's weakened. President Karzai has to stand for re-election in a week, amid charges of fraud and corruption. And the fight in Afghanistan is getting tougher.

Now that next of kin are notified, the Pentagon Friday allowed released of disturbing footage. The aftermath of the attack that killed 7 U.S. soldiers this week. The buried bomb was so big it blew the armored bottom of an IED resistant Stryker up through the roof.

One of the dead was Pfc. Ian Walz, of Washington State. When Private Walz's remains were returned home Thursday, the Commander in Chief was on hand. Mr. Obama says he will factor in how he feels about the human cost of the war.

And the President says he'll sort through the facts and analysis he's hearing from his generals and advisors to make up his mind about sending more Americans to the war.