Obama holds fire on more troops to fight the Taliban

Barack Obama today said he would "shortly" make a decision over whether to pour thousands more US troops into the Afghan conflict.

The president says he refuses to be rushed into sending more troops to the country as he considers his options for tackling the resurgent Taliban.

Military commanders, who have requested the extra troops, have noted that the president is more "independent minded" than his predecessor. In the past, any request to George Bush was met with immediate approval. But aides said Mr Obama was not only looking at troops levels but every aspect of tackling the Taliban and al Qaeda. He is questioning the timetable, the mission and even the composition of the new forces.

The president has insisted that the Afghan war is his priority above Iraq, and said the US must stop terrorists from being trained in the lawless mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It is likely that his decision on troops will be made after he has talked with his special envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, who had been holding talks in the region. US defence secretary Robert Gates said a decision on deployment of troops would be made in days rather than weeks. "The president will have several options before him," Mr Gates said. "And I think he will make those decisions probably in the course of the next few days."

The US commander in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, has requested up to 30,000 additional troops, including three more combat brigades, an aviation brigade and support troops. Such an increase - almost doubling the size of the US deployment - would have a huge impact on the 9,000 British troops in Afghanistan. The extra troops are likely to be based in Helmand province where British forces are engaged in daily battles with the Taliban.

White House press spokesman Robert Gibbs said combat brigades could be in place by mid summer.

Mr Obama will turn his attention to the war after signing the $787 billion economic stimulus bill today during a visit to Denver, Colorado. The rescue package includes spending on infrastructure, education, tax breaks for individuals and businesses, help for unemployed workers and aid for state governments. The president said the bill will save or create up to three million jobs and is vital to stop the US economy from going into a tailspin.