Obama seeks new Afghan timelines

Washington: A senior administration official says President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing for revisions to clarify how and when US troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government.

That stance comes amid forceful reservations about a possible troop build-up from the US ambassador in Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, according to a second top administration official.

In strongly worded classified cables to Washington, Eikenberry said he had misgivings about sending in new troops while there are still so many questions about the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Obama is still close to announcing his revamped strategy -probably shortly after he returns from a trip to Asia that ends November 19.