WASHINGTON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - U.S. military chiefs plan to present recommendations on troop strength and strategy in Afghanistan to President Barack Obama on Friday, officials said, a sign White House deliberations may be nearing a conclusion. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General James Cartwright will be joined at the White House meeting by the top leaders of the Army, Marine Corps., Navy and Air Force. "They will present those views to the president, collectively and individually," a Pentagon official said, referring to the chiefs' recommendations on troops levels and war strategy. "The chiefs' views in regard to resources will be an important factor." General Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has recommended deploying an additional 40,000 troops next year, a figure that includes trainers to accelerate the expansion of the Afghan army. The White House says Obama has yet to decide whether to send that many or a smaller number of troops. (Editing by Philip Barbara (For full coverage of Afghanistan, click on [nAFPAK])
A U.S. soldier plays pool at a recreation room at Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan October 29, 2009. Soldiers that salsa or croon to karaoke will soon be disappointed in Afghanistan, as ...
