Gates Doubts U.S.'s Afghan Strategy

By YOCHI J. DREAZEN
WSJ

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama met with senior counselors for three hours Wednesday to launch his review of Afghan war strategy, amid indications that his defense secretary -- the key link between the White House and the military -- is among those undecided about the right approach.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the senior U.S. commander in Kabul, is advocating a manpower-intensive counterinsurgency strategy that focuses on protecting the Afghan populace rather than hunting individual militants.

He submitted a classified assessment over the weekend calling for up to 40,000 fresh U.S. reinforcements, and the request will be looked at in coming weeks as part of the Obama administration's review of its Afghanistan policy.

Mr. Obama met with senior military officials, diplomats and Cabinet members Wednesday as part of the review, which White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said was designed to "poke and prod" potential new approaches to the conflict.

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