Obama Calls for Security Meeting on Afghanistan

U.S. President Barack Obama has called another meeting of his national security team as he moves closer toward a decision on whether to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

Top administration officials are expected to attend the national security meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan Monday, including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Mr. Obama first called the national security team together in August as he began wrestling with a new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. 

The president is weighing a request from the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for up to 40,000 additional troops to support the war effort.

President Obama has said he will announce his plans by the end of the year.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.