Obama finalized the orders during a meeting with advisers including Vice President Joe Biden, Adm. Mike Mullen, Gens. James Cartwright and David Petraeus, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Immediately afterward, Obama spoke with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top American commander in Afghanistan, and Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. civilian leader there, via secure video conference in the Situation Room. Politico
Gen. William Caldwell, seen here mocking Obama with McChrystal, says Afghanistan is more complicated than Iraq but there is hope.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Here's something funny. People are mad that Obama's speech in some areas will replace A Charlie Brown Christmas. Ah, what a thoughtful and caring nation we are.