Obama defends war plan review

Jacksonville, Florida: President Barack Obama fired back on Monday at critics who accuse him of taking too long to review war strategy in Afghanistan, telling an audience of military personnel he will not rush his decision on whether to send additional troops there.

Before 3,500 members of the military and their families in a hangar at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Obama said US troops deserve a clear strategy and full support to fulfill their mission.

"I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary," Obama said to loud applause. "And if it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt."

Framed on the dais by uniformed members of the Navy and Marine Corps, and with members of other branches standing in front of him, Obama pushed back against those who have said his weeks-long review of war strategy for Afghanistan is endangering troops there.

Former Vice-President Dick Cheney accused Obama last week of "dithering" as he weighs whether to add up to 40,000 new US troops to the fight in Afghanistan. Cheney said Obama "seems afraid" to make a decision, adding that as the president makes up his mind, "America's armed forces are in danger."

The top US commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has said he needs additional troops or the United States will risk failure of its counterinsurgency strategy.

Obama met Monday morning with his top national security advisers in the White House Situation Room before travelling.

Aboard Air Force One, press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the president's decision "could come at any moment," although he said most likely it will come within weeks.