It will be interesting to hear about the Afghanistan strategy and what Obama is sending the 30,000 troops over there to do and for how long. I hope it is not as open-ended as Iraq was and that it does not last long.

Sounds like a big to-do at the White House; is there any entertainment planned for the guests or just dinner?? See you tonight!!

Hi. Yes. There's a lot of entertainment on the schedule at the State Dinner tonight. In fact, we hope to bring you some of the performances during the program tonight. On the agenda: The National Symphony Orchestra, with Marvin Hamlisch as the conductor, A.R. Rahman, an Indian composer, musician and singer who wrote the "Slumdog Millionaire" score and Oscar winner and singer Jennifer Hudson.

It amazes me that during a discussion of increasing troop strength in Afghanistan that not one word is said about estimated numbers of troop deaths that will result form this open-ended committment. This needs to be discussed up-front. We have to know what the committment in lives is, not just "one trillion dollars over ten years". I have to believe that Obama and team have intentionally left this out of the discussion...a sad comment on the supposed "transparency" that Obama has touted.

President Obama should pull out of Afghanistan. There is no workable strategy for wining a war you do not know why they are fighting. Its now a question of pride for the Afghan people and taliban.
IF YOU WANT TO SOLVE A PROBLEM FIRST FIND THE CAUSE.

I imagine President Obama, just like most other Americans wants to pull the troops out of Afghanistan but that may not be feasible at this point in time. Some accuse him of dithering but it's quite a difficult situation, which is why I assume he is taking the time to consider all possible options. It's a double edged sword; sending more troops into the line of fire on one hand vs. leaving those already there under supported.

Kudos Mr President for honoring India as the first official guest of DC and treated to a lavish dinner.
This is breaking the norm of past presidencies which accorded the honor to Canada and Mexico first.
We are thankful to you President Obama for recognising the importance of Asia as a world force.
All this while Asia is put in the back seat on the world stage.
Obama recognizes Asia as the emerging force in world economy with India and China as the two most populous democracies.
I hope similar honor is accorded to my Prime Minister when he visits DC in January.

What were the cost involved in this state dinner, aside from the other parties the first family have enjoyed while many in america find themselves wondering when their pantry will run dry. As well, why would hollywood A-listers even be invited, this was a state dinner which should have been government people not hollywood insiders and reporters who favor the Obama deceit team.

As to Afghanistan, pull the troops out. We will not "win" this war, not today, not 10 years from now and in the mean time countless americas will die because of the tea and biscuit style politics of the Obama team who think kind words win anything on the battle field.

Interested to hear WHY the Pres. is going to send 34K, 6000 less than McCrystal says he needs to avoid the tide turning for the Taliban. This "do it on the cheap" strategy sounds strangely like the strategy of a SecDef from the past, Donald Rumsfeld. If the war is "necessary" (and I believe it is) why not fully resource it with the troops the Commander YOU picked says are necessary. Next we will hear that Obama (if we can get him to come off the golf course and campaign stops),from the safety of Washington D.C., will be picking targets and the munitions to be used, for McCrystal.

When an under-resourced military can't end it so he can "exit", what then? We will need to be in Afghanistan for a decade more before they can be relied on to keep the Taliban/AQ out.