WASHINGTON
President Obama grappled yesterday with the costs and consequences of a long-term commitment to Afghanistan, but reached no decisions about troop levels, a top aide said, as military advisers briefed him on an armed services already taxed by challenges around the globe.
Obama reviewed his options with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and made it clear that he wants at least one more meeting with them and with his broader national security team before deciding on a revamped war strategy for the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, a senior administration official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of Obama's private deliberations.
Obama's much anticipated review of how to right a deteriorating war effort is nearing its end but still weeks away from being wrapped up.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff includes the service chiefs from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The group's main mission is to ensure that the armed forces are trained, ready, healthy and large enough to carry out the missions of the military. In that sense, the body plays a vital role in Obama's war planning.
Each of the chiefs spoke about the state of their military branch. They did not make recommendations to Obama about troop levels, the senior official said. Rather, they put Afghanistan in the context of all deployments.
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