How can anyone here support the President on his escalation of the war in Afghanistan?

Q Robert, as far as you know, has the President decided on number of troops, additional troops he'd like to send to Afghanistan?

MR. GIBBS: No, no. Despite the many chances to read otherwise throughout the weekend. Safe to say if he'd made a decision, I think we could free up at least part of his Wednesday.

Q What about a proportional breakdown between trainers, for example, and combat troops, anything like that --

MR. GIBBS: No, no.

Q -- or any thought to where they might come from?

MR. GIBBS: Well, thought from where they might come from?

Q Fort Campbell comes to mind.

MR. GIBBS: Oh, I mean, look, I think -- I mean, obviously there's -- we know where very specialized troops are, but I don't think that the President has -- I doubt we've have gotten to identifying what fort they're at without getting to a number.

Q Also, just to circle back to something you said earlier, is the President consulting outside groups or particular people outside the Situation Room to talk about the Afghanistan review strategy?

MR. GIBBS: Well, let me make sure I understand. Is he having discussions outside of the meetings, or is he talking to participants throughout the process that are different than just those in the meeting itself?

Q Yes. (Laughter.)

MR. GIBBS: Wait a minute, that's my answer. I know that the President has had occasion to talk about the issue of Afghanistan outside of that -- outside of those meetings and outside of just those participants, yes.

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