This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8359483.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US troops: Where do the key players stand? US troops: Where do the key players stand?
(about 6 hours later)
The president has held eight meetings with his national security teamThe president has held eight meetings with his national security team
US President Obama is weighing up whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan to bolster the more than 65,000 already stationed there.US President Obama is weighing up whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan to bolster the more than 65,000 already stationed there.
Over the past weeks, he has been holding a series of meetings with his closest advisers to help him reach a decision, which could arguably become one of the most important of his presidency.Over the past weeks, he has been holding a series of meetings with his closest advisers to help him reach a decision, which could arguably become one of the most important of his presidency.
Divisions among the president's team became public when a warning from the US envoy to Afghanistan, General Karl Eikenberry, about sending thousands of more troops was leaked to the press.Divisions among the president's team became public when a warning from the US envoy to Afghanistan, General Karl Eikenberry, about sending thousands of more troops was leaked to the press.
Who are President Obama's advisers and where to they stand on the issue? Who are President Obama's advisers and where do they stand on the issue?
Here they are in a "sliding scale of support" according to the number of troops they are reported to favour sending.Here they are in a "sliding scale of support" according to the number of troops they are reported to favour sending.
Gen Stanley McChrystalGen Stanley McChrystal
Gen Stanley McChrystal is the top US military commander in Afghanistan, in charge of both Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and US forces there.Gen Stanley McChrystal is the top US military commander in Afghanistan, in charge of both Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and US forces there.
He took over in June after his predecessor, Gen David McKiernan, was sacked by the president and the US defence secretary.He took over in June after his predecessor, Gen David McKiernan, was sacked by the president and the US defence secretary.
Shortly after taking up his post, he called for a revised military strategy, focussing on protecting the Afghan people against the Taliban.Shortly after taking up his post, he called for a revised military strategy, focussing on protecting the Afghan people against the Taliban.
He has since told President Barack Obama that the US mission in Afghanistan is headed for failure unless the president commits an additional 40,000 troops.He has since told President Barack Obama that the US mission in Afghanistan is headed for failure unless the president commits an additional 40,000 troops.
The general also wants to speed up the training of Afghan security forces, but argues that in the meantime, more US forces need to be out on patrol to safeguard the lives of Afghan civilians.The general also wants to speed up the training of Afghan security forces, but argues that in the meantime, more US forces need to be out on patrol to safeguard the lives of Afghan civilians.
Adm Mike MullenAdm Mike Mullen
Adm Mike Mullen is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is the top military officer in the US.Adm Mike Mullen is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is the top military officer in the US.
During his nomination hearing for his second term in office, he said that a "properly resourced counter insurgency probably means more forces" were needed in Afghanistan.During his nomination hearing for his second term in office, he said that a "properly resourced counter insurgency probably means more forces" were needed in Afghanistan.
At the time, he did not specify how many more troops he was talking about, but he is believed to favour between 30,000 to 35,000 more troops.At the time, he did not specify how many more troops he was talking about, but he is believed to favour between 30,000 to 35,000 more troops.
His spokesman said the admiral would not comment as the advice he provided to the president was "private".His spokesman said the admiral would not comment as the advice he provided to the president was "private".
Robert GatesRobert Gates
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has acknowledged the difficulty the president faces in getting the balance right between "a need to show a commitment to Afghanistan with conveying to President Hamid Karzai's corruption-tainted government that America's military presence is not indefinite.US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has acknowledged the difficulty the president faces in getting the balance right between "a need to show a commitment to Afghanistan with conveying to President Hamid Karzai's corruption-tainted government that America's military presence is not indefinite.
"How do you signal resolve and at the same time signal you are not going to be there forever?" he asked, speaking after the eighth meeting the president held."How do you signal resolve and at the same time signal you are not going to be there forever?" he asked, speaking after the eighth meeting the president held.
He has also been highly critical of information from the meeting being passed on to the press:He has also been highly critical of information from the meeting being passed on to the press:
"I have been appalled by the amount of leaking that has been going on in this process.""I have been appalled by the amount of leaking that has been going on in this process."
He has not commented directly on his preference for troop numbers, but US media have reported he would like to see an increase of at least 30,000 troops.He has not commented directly on his preference for troop numbers, but US media have reported he would like to see an increase of at least 30,000 troops.
Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has attended all of the eight meetings President Obama held on Afghanistan and Pakistan, either in person or over the phone.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has attended all of the eight meetings President Obama held on Afghanistan and Pakistan, either in person or over the phone.
She has not commented on the reported remarks by Ambassador Eikenberry. She has, however, voiced concern about the "corruption, lack of transparency, poor governance, absence of the rule of law" in Afghanistan.She has not commented on the reported remarks by Ambassador Eikenberry. She has, however, voiced concern about the "corruption, lack of transparency, poor governance, absence of the rule of law" in Afghanistan.
US media reports say that - like Adm Mullen and Robert Gates - she is backing the proposal to send between 30,000 to 35,000 more troops.US media reports say that - like Adm Mullen and Robert Gates - she is backing the proposal to send between 30,000 to 35,000 more troops.
But the State Department has declined to comment on Mrs Clinton's position or her reaction to Ambassador Eikenberry's comments, saying that both his advice and that of the Secretary of State are confidential.But the State Department has declined to comment on Mrs Clinton's position or her reaction to Ambassador Eikenberry's comments, saying that both his advice and that of the Secretary of State are confidential.
Rahm EmanuelRahm Emanuel
White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has in the past expressed doubts about adding substantial troop numbers to those already in Afghanistan, as well as concern about what the US administration can achieve while co-operating with President Karzai.White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has in the past expressed doubts about adding substantial troop numbers to those already in Afghanistan, as well as concern about what the US administration can achieve while co-operating with President Karzai.
Speaking in October, he said that "it's clear that basically we had a war for eight years that was going on, that's adrift, that we're beginning at scratch, just at the starting point ... and that there's not a security force, an army, and the types of services that are important for the Afghans to become a true partner."Speaking in October, he said that "it's clear that basically we had a war for eight years that was going on, that's adrift, that we're beginning at scratch, just at the starting point ... and that there's not a security force, an army, and the types of services that are important for the Afghans to become a true partner."
However, he has not commented publicly on troop numbers.However, he has not commented publicly on troop numbers.
Vice President Joe BidenVice President Joe Biden
The Vice President has been dubbed a sceptic in the ongoing discussions about troop reinforcements, with the New York Times even calling him "Mr Obama's in-house pessimist on Afghanistan".The Vice President has been dubbed a sceptic in the ongoing discussions about troop reinforcements, with the New York Times even calling him "Mr Obama's in-house pessimist on Afghanistan".
Until Ambassadors Eikenberry's intervention he was the strongest opponent of a further escalation of US forces in Afghanistan.Until Ambassadors Eikenberry's intervention he was the strongest opponent of a further escalation of US forces in Afghanistan.
He has repeatedly questioned whether an increase in the number of troops on the ground would be effective given the doubts about Afghan president Hamid Karzai's legitimacy and his willingness to fight corruption.He has repeatedly questioned whether an increase in the number of troops on the ground would be effective given the doubts about Afghan president Hamid Karzai's legitimacy and his willingness to fight corruption.
He is also believed to be at odds with Gen McChrystal over the issue of making the protection of the Afghan population a main priority. He reportedly would rather speed up the training of the Afghan security forces to undertake the task themselves, giving US forces more scope to track down al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan.He is also believed to be at odds with Gen McChrystal over the issue of making the protection of the Afghan population a main priority. He reportedly would rather speed up the training of the Afghan security forces to undertake the task themselves, giving US forces more scope to track down al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan.
Ambassador Karl EikenberryAmbassador Karl Eikenberry
Karl Eikenberry is the US Ambassador to Kabul. He is a retired lieutenant-general, who was himself a former US military commander in Afghanistan.Karl Eikenberry is the US Ambassador to Kabul. He is a retired lieutenant-general, who was himself a former US military commander in Afghanistan.
He has become - thanks to the leaking of a telegram he sent to the White House expressing his concern about a troop increase - the most visible and vocal opponent of sending a large number of US troops to Afghanistan.He has become - thanks to the leaking of a telegram he sent to the White House expressing his concern about a troop increase - the most visible and vocal opponent of sending a large number of US troops to Afghanistan.
His stance has put him on a collision course with Gen McChrystal, the man behind a demand for more troopsHis stance has put him on a collision course with Gen McChrystal, the man behind a demand for more troops
The ambassador is quoted as saying that sending substantially more soldiers was "not a good idea" at present because of ongoing concerns over alleged corruption in the Afghan government.The ambassador is quoted as saying that sending substantially more soldiers was "not a good idea" at present because of ongoing concerns over alleged corruption in the Afghan government.
He has in the past asked for more civilian personnel to be sent to Afghanistan to help with other projects, such as getting farmers to give up poppy cultivation.He has in the past asked for more civilian personnel to be sent to Afghanistan to help with other projects, such as getting farmers to give up poppy cultivation.
His concerns about sending additional troops are believed to focus around the worry that a bigger US presence could make Afghans more reliant on outside help and lessen the urgency to train up an independent Afghan force.His concerns about sending additional troops are believed to focus around the worry that a bigger US presence could make Afghans more reliant on outside help and lessen the urgency to train up an independent Afghan force.