There are currently 68,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. But according to a report leaked to the Washington Post last week, the top commander on the ground there, General Stanley McChrystal, wants to increase the troop strength by up to 40,000 more troops.
Meanwhile, back at home, the American populace (as measured by public opinion polls) seems to be growing weary of the war, approaching its 8th anniversary. Some legislators (such as House Appropriations Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin) have already gone on record as saying they are dubious about spending more on the war if there isn't more progress on the ground.
What does Barack Obama do? (Download the Mitch Perry Report podcast after the break.)
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2009.