1 of 4 | Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, (L to R) speak to reporters after a bi-cameral, bi-partisan meeting to discuss strategy in Afghanistan with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington on October 6, 2009. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg |
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Some Democrats expressed serious misgivings about the request by top generals for a force buildup. Republicans urged the president to increase the number of troops.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who ran against Obama last year for president, said "time is not on our side" and told the president the process should not be "leisurely."
"John, I can assure you this won't be leisurely," Obama said. "No one feels more urgency to get this right than I do."
The president and Vice President Joe Biden spent 75 minutes with about 30 leaders in the State Dining Room, the Times reported.