11/11/2009 6:24 AM
ET
(RTTNews) -
U.S. President Barack Obama is reported to have convened a fresh Situation Room meeting Wednesday with his close national security aides at the White House--the eighth in the series since mid-August, as a part of his plan to find the right policy that would work in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Though initial media reports indicated that Obama was scheduled to announce his new Afghanistan-Pakistan policy before leaving Thursday on a 8-day Asia trip, it now appears to be unlikely.
This was confirmed by Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, who told reporters that he was not told when it (announcement of the Af-Pak policy) would be made, but he doubted it would happen prior to Thursday.
He also replied in the negative when asked if the announcement of the Afghanistan-Pakistan policy would be made during Obama's Asia trip.
Gibbs said Wednesday's meeting was in line with the previous ones wherein he met with his close aides from defense, security and intelligence organizations. He also said that the Pentagon was working on more recommendations.
Earlier, the White House denied President Obama had decided to send more U.S. forces to Afghanistan, amid mounting media speculation he had made up his mind on a troop build-up.
James Jones, U.S. national security adviser and a former Commandant of the U.S. Marines, said in a statement that reports stating President Obama had decided about Afghanistan were "absolutely false".
"He has not received final options for his consideration, he has not reviewed those options with his national security team, and he has not made any decisions about resources," Jones said. He added that any reports to the contrary were untrue and came from uninformed sources.
Meanwhile, a recent report from an American News Channel, citing two senior unnamed administration officials, said that President Obama would receive four options on troop-increases in Afghanistan.
The Situation Room meeting Wednesday will focus entirely on the four options, which the president has yet to receive on paper, all of which contain an increase in current troop levels in Afghanistan, it added.
by RTT Staff Writer
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