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Obama has 4 options on Afghan troop buildup: White House

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-11 05:59

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama's options on a pending buildup of US troops in Afghanistan have been narrowed down to four, the White House said Tuesday.

The president will discuss those options with his national security team Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to  Fort Hood, Tex., for a memorial service for the victims of last week's shooting rampage there.

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However, Gibbs declined to give details on those options and didn't say when the president will make the troop decision.

Obama is going to decide on whether to grant a request by top US commander in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal, to send 40,000 more troops.

That would substantially expand the 68,000-strong US force in that country.  

US media and analysts didn't expect Obama to make the Afghan troop decision until he returns from a trip to Asia by the end of next week.