Asked what variables would play into his decision-making that would cause him to not just take McChystal’s recommendation and implement it, the President said today that he’s talking to a wide variety of people, both commanders and civilians, to get the best possible picture of the situation. "I've been asking not only General McChrystal, but all of our commanders who are familiar with the situation, as well as our civilian folks on the ground, a lot of questions that, until they're answered, may -- may create a situation in which we resource something based on faulty premises ... I want to make sure that we have tested all the assumptions that we're making before we send young men and women into harm's way, that if we are sending additional troops that the prospects of a functioning Afghan government are enhanced, that the prospects of al Qaeda being able to attack the U.S. Homeland are reduced." His obligation, the President said is to make sure that “whatever investments we make are leading to a safer United States, are sustainable.” “There are a whole host of those questions that we have worked through systematically. Full Article at Political Punch