Washington, October 31, 2009 – U.S. President Barack Obama is consulting with top military officials Friday, as he considers whether to send additional forces to Afghanistan.

Mr. Obama will meet at the White House with the Joint Chiefs of Staff - military leaders from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines.

Pentagon spokesman, Geoff Morrell, says the meeting comes as the president reaches the "end stage" of his decision-making process on Afghanistan.

Mr. Obama has been reviewing strategy options for the war in Afghanistan, including a request from the top U.S. commander in the country, General Stanley McChrystal, for 40,000 more troops.

On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a U.S. television network the United States is looking to change its counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.  She said Washington wants to avoid a repeat of what she called the "same old approach."

Clinton also said the United States is not losing the war in Afghanistan, but she acknowledged the Taliban has gained momentum.

In an interview Friday with another American television network, Clinton said the U.S. presence in Afghanistan is not an "open-ended, never-ending commitment."

Secretary Clinton spoke from Pakistan, as she wrapped up her three-day diplomatic mission to the country.

The White House has indicated President Obama will wait until after the November 7 Afghan presidential run-off election before announcing a decision on sending additional troops to Afghanistan.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

Source: VOA News, October 30, 2009

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