Pentagon Delays Troop Call

Request for Additional Forces on Hold as White House Seeks Review of Afghan Strategy

By YOCHI DREAZEN and PETER SPIEGEL

Associated Press

A U.S. soldier at a base in Afghanistan's East Paktika province on Sunday.

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has told its top commander in Afghanistan to delay submitting his request for additional troops, defense officials say, amid signs that the Obama administration is rethinking its strategy for combating a resurgent Taliban.

A senior Pentagon official says the administration has asked for the reprieve so it can complete a review of the U.S.-led war effort. "We have to make sure we have the right strategy" before looking at additional troop requests, the official said. "Things have changed on the ground fairly considerably."

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Reuters

GRIEVING IN ROME: A state funeral Monday honoring six Italian soldiers killed last week in Afghanistan drew thousands of mourners to St. Paul's Basilica. Above, Martin Fortunato, whose father, Italian Capt. Antonio Fortunato, was slain. Losses from Thursday's attack were the worst suffered by Italians in Afghanistan.