"We had an opportunity to get a fairly in-depth intelligence assessment on what's going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to assess individually where we are in each and what's changed since March" when the president decided to sendanadditional 21, 000 troops, Gibbs said.
Casey acknowledged that he had called for anadditional two brigades be sent to Iraq, versus the five the president now plans to send there, but said the extra forces would be handy.