Obama, joint chiefs meet on defense issues

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The White House and the U.S. military face hard choices on Iraq and Afghanistan, President Obama said after meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"We're going to have some difficult decisions to make surrounding Iraq and Afghanistan" in the near term, Obama said after he and Vice President Joe Biden met with the joint chiefs at the Pentagon.

"Going after extremists" who would harm the United States also is "uppermost in our minds," Obama said.

Obama said they talked about a range of issues facing the military as well as "threats that face this nation."

Military personnel also need resources and support "to keep our nation safe each and very day," Obama said.

"I have the utmost confidence the military will do its job," the president said.

He pledged the "civilian side of the ledger" would do its job to support them.

The armed forces has been asked to carry out a "whole set of missions, sometimes (without) the strategic support" needed, Obama said. One of his goals, he said, is to ensure military personnel "were not carrying the full load."

The country was grateful for service members' service and sacrifices "responsible for our freedoms," Obama said.