President Bush's national security team is meeting in Texas to discuss a new strategy in Iraq.
A White House spokesman, Scott Stanzel, called the gathering Thursday at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, an opportunity for Mr. Bush to review options.
Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, national security adviser Stephen Hadley and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Peter Pace were all present at the meeting.
The Bush administration has been debating strategies for reducing the violence in Iraq and whether to send more troops. Mr. Bush is expected to announce a new plan next month.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon said it is sending about 3,500 troops to Kuwait to serve as a standby force for use in Iraq or elsewhere in the region.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
