Mr. Gates and President Obama visit Afghanistan

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates landed in Afghanistan for an unannounced visit. Mr. Gates met with several American commanders and President Hamid Karzai, in order to complete the White House year-end review. In addition, Mr. Gates is expected to meet with the lead U.S. and NATO commander General David H. Petraeus.

President Barack Obama also landed in Afghanistan with plans of meeting with Mr. Karzai. However, due to weather conditions President Obama held a phone conference with Mr. Karzai. Although the White House is conducting a year-end review, policy changes are not expected to happen. Instead, Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon spokesman, states that Mr. Gates already had a "pretty good sense that the strategy is working." President Obama has said that his plans to begin withdrawing the 100,000 troops in Afghanistan are still in place for July 2011.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/world/asia/08gates.html?_r=1&ref=asia