to decide whether to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates says more time is needed
to decide whether to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.
Mr Gates said on Monday that those advising President Barack Obama about Afghanistan should be candid but discreet with their views.
The BBC reports that is seen as a rebuke to the man in charge of military operations in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
Last week, he said the operation was "under-resourced" and a "dramatically different" strategy might be needed.
Mr Obama met General McChrystal on Air Force One in Copenhagen last week to discuss the future strategy of troop deployments in Afghanistan.
At the weekend, the new head of the British Army backed calls for more international forces.
General Sir David Richards told the Sunday Telegraph that reinforcements would enable NATO to achieve its objectives more quickly and with fewer casualties
