Obama narrows Afghan strategy to four options

U.S. Marine Captain Eric Meador from Laurel, Mississippi of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. takes up a fighting position during the start of Operation Khanjari on July 2, 2009 in Main Poshteh, Afghanistan. (Joe Raedle, Getty Images)

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama has narrowed down his decision for an Afghanistan strategy to four options.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president will discuss those options with his national security team on Wednesday. Gibbs did not provide any details about the options, and says the president's decision on troop deployments is still weeks away.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has told the president that the U.S. mission there is headed for failure unless the president sends an additional 40,000 troops. Sources tell The Associated Press that the president will add tens of thousands more forces, though probably not quite the 40,000 McChrystal is seeking.

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