Gates: Military Will Fall In Line On Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. military will not hesitate in carrying out whatever mission President Barack Obama decides on in Afghanistan.

Gates said Monday that the president's military and civilian policy advisers need to give Obama candid but private advice until that decision is made.

Gates' comments to the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army came as the Obama administration debates whether to continue fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan or shift focus to destroying al-Qaida terrorists in Pakistan using unmanned drones and special forces.

Top military officials want to continue fighting the Taliban with as many as an additional 40,000 troops, as the U.S. and NATO commander in Kabul has recommended.