Obama Says He Won't Reduce Troops in Afghanistan

President Obama told congressional leaders Tuesday that he would not support a major reduction of troops in Afghanistan and will not shift the mission to simply hunting terrorists. He added that he remains undecided about the troop increase recommended by Gen. Stanley McChrystal. White House officials said that in meeting with leaders from both parties, Obama hoped to find middle ground on the wildly opposing ideas of how the war should be handled and to "dispense with the straw man argument that this is about either doubling down or leaving Afghanistan."

Despite the president's desire to smooth over the debate, the meeting was slightly contentious. While some Democrats said they would support him whatever he decided, many raised strong objections to further troop increases. Republicans, meanwhile, urged him to follow the general's recommendations without delay. In one sharp exchange, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told Obama that "time is not on our side" and that the decision "should not be a leisurely process." Obama responded that "no one feels more urgency to get this done right now than I do."