President Barack Obama is convening his Afghan War council today as he begins deciding on strategy and troop levels for an ncreasingly unpopular conflict.

Joining the secretaries of State and Defense in the White House Situation Room are top U.S. commanders, both in person and via
secure video link.

On the table: General Stanley McChrystal's grim assessment of the fight against the Taliban. McChrystal's urging more U.S. troops
be deployed.

The meeting marks the start of a multi-week review of the Afghanistan conflict after the disputed election.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that decision is still weeks away as leaders try to figure out if taking on al-Qaida requires a
major new U.S. commitment.

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain says too much is at stake in Afghanistan for the United States and its allies to give up the fighting there and says he hopes President  Obama "will make the right decision."

Obama's  Republican opponent in last year's presidential election said "time is not on our side, so we need a decision (on sending additional troops) pretty quickly."

Interviewed Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America," McCain said some of the counterinsurgency strategies deployed in Iraq must be utilized in Afghanistan and said "the Karzai government has to clean up its act."

The Arizona Republican said the debate is between counterinsurgency and counterterrorism strategies, saying the latter will not work.

- Associated Press