Obama, lawmakers to meet about Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- President Obama will meet with U.S. congressional leaders of both parties next week before he announces his Afghanistan policy, lawmakers' aides confirmed.

Democratic and Republican leaders from the House and Senate, key committee heads and ranking minority members are scheduled to meet with Obama at the White House late Tuesday afternoon, The Hill reported Wednesday.

Obama will address the nation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST.

Aides to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Armed Services Committee ranking Republican member Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Foreign Relations ranking member Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana said the lawmakers would attend the meeting.

White House aides have indicated to several media outlets that Obama will announce a troop increase of up to 30,000 U.S. soldiers, the Washington publication reported. Currently, 68,000 troops are in Afghanistan. However, a Defense Department official told CNN Pentagon planners were told to prepare to send about 34,000 troops to Afghanistan.

Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, reportedly requested 40,000 additional troops.