Obama Hasn't Heard "Magic Phrase" on Afghanistan

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: Afghanistan

(White House )

After the latest 3 hour strategy session on Afghanistan, President Obama is still not ready to make a decision on how many more troops, if any, to deploy. He has now taken part in 15 hours of policy review and has another meeting with his war council next week.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president has yet to hear the "magic sentence" or "magic phrase" that will enable to him finish his strategy review and make the pending decision on troops.

Gibbs was adamant in shooting down a BBC report that Mr. Obama has settled on sending another 45,000 American forces to Afghanistan. Gibbs said Mr. Obama had not yet made a decision, much less conveyed word to the British.

The spokesman again ruled out the option of a U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan saying "the president has been clear to say, we're not leaving Afghanistan."

Today's session focused on efforts by the U.S. and its allies to strengthen the "civilian mission within Afghanistan." Gibbs said the president also received an updated report on programs to train the Afghan National Army and Police.

The 3-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room was again attended by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser Jim Jones, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen and others. Secretary of State Clinton was traveling in Russia and took part by telephone from her Air Force plane. The U.S. Ambassadors in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Karl Eikenberry and Anne Patterson, respectively, as well as the top military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, all took part in the session by way of a secure video hookup.

Gibbs, who also attended the session, said the participants are not shy about voicing their opinions to the president about U.S. policy in Afghanistan.

"This is not a shrinking violets group," said Gibbs at his afternoon press briefing.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today announced his government is ready to send another 500 troops to Afghanistan>.

"We're thankful for a strengthening of the coalition," said Gibbs, even as the U.S. re-assessment continues.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

(CBS)

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by Concerned_Very_Concerned October 15, 2009 10:20 PM EDT: So the Magic Phrase is how many Troops Russia is going to provide to defend Israel.; Reply to this comment


by Concerned_Very_Concerned October 15, 2009 10:19 PM EDT: Obama is in a pickle. Israel is apt to bomb Iran before Christmas. If he sends our predominately Republica Military to Afganistan, who is he going to send to support Israel when Iran retaliates? He is waiting for Clinton to get back from Europe with a Troop Count from Europe. Until he knows that number, he is in a quandry in Afganistan.; Reply to this comment

by Aldymac October 15, 2009 11:00 AM EDT

hindblogger doesn't read, he/she just writes. WNDs have been found in quantity, 500 tons of yellow cake has been relocated to Canada, plus weapons that have been found and destroyed by military forces in Iraq. Yellow cake is where you get material for nuclear weapons. The main stream media forgot to report on those news items, perhaps they didn't think those items were news worthy.
Osama and his terrorist side kicks live off an ideaology that has killed millions of people throughout history, you might kill them but the ideaology has appeal to people who think its cool to kill for the fun of the ideaology. If we keep killing them maybe we can eventually kill the ideaology itself.

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by hindblogger October 27, 2009 8:13 AM EDT: I agree that I may not be reading but one thing I am sure that WMD were not found in IRAQ. Sameway- there was no Al-Qaeda present in Afghansitan and USA is fighting with TALIBAN not with Qaeda.
Besides having hi-tech technology- USA could not find LADEN and others hiding in mountains.
At one end we see that USA is openly blaming PAK for LADEN and others and on otherhand USA is givingbillion of dollars of tax payers money to PAK...even army support had been pledged.
Now- what is this my friend ? USA is fighting with terrorism or it is trying to control the region in name of terror ?


by sjc_1 October 15, 2009 10:33 AM EDT: When your advisers are split and can not come to consensus, you better keep working on it. This is a big decision and all qualified and credible points of view should be explored in depth to see what is at the root of all of it. The search for truth in this matter should be the method.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 October 15, 2009 8:03 AM EDT: Is is just my imagination or did CBS change the format again and start putting the most recent posts at the top of the page?; Reply to this comment

by stuart-johns2 October 15, 2009 6:46 AM EDT

What a bunch of stupid comments from the stupid republican extremists.

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by hindblogger October 27, 2009 8:15 AM EDT: Dear Stuart,

We are not stupid and we are not republicans. We are not biased either. Please explain your point and discuss, just cursing people doesn't help.

by truth-b-toll October 15, 2009 2:30 AM EDT

MAGIG PHRASE - DRUGS & TAXES...

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by hindblogger October 27, 2009 8:17 AM EDT: Yes- this is that magic phrase. And I will add OIL in this. Because Now USA is showing colors to Soudi Arabia and IRAN. What is this whole scene ? God help USA- this is clear, crystal cut bossism and loot and all in name of terror which was started, cultivated and funded by US money.Everyone knows that Laden was CIA man untill day of 26/11


by mav547166 October 15, 2009 1:54 AM EDT: What else can we expect from an administration that is afraid of Fox news,the "vast right wing conspiracy", and liberal bloggers in their pajamas.; Reply to this comment


by rightiswrong October 15, 2009 12:09 AM EDT: testing ...; Reply to this comment


by rightiswrong October 15, 2009 12:04 AM EDT: Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president has yet to hear the "magic sentence" or "magic phrase" that will enable to him finish his strategy review and make the pending decision on troops.

"Sorry about that"; Reply to this comment