In terms of clarity and forthrightness, the Obama administration couldn't have asked for more from the top commander of the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

McChrystal's assessment, as reported by The Washington Post, which obtained a copy of the document, laid out in blunt terms the magnitude of the problems facing the coalition forces in Afghanistan, with a warning that without additional troops by next year, the conflict "likely will result in failure." The requested troop surge would be in addition to the 68,000 U.S. soldiers expected by the end of this year.

"Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near term -- while Afghan security capacity matures -- risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible," McChrystal wrote in his report. He also noted in his summary, "While the situation is serious, success is still achievable."

The report was seen as being grim because of the worsening ground conditions in Afghanistan and the regrouped Taliban's ability to strike with ruthless force through much of the country despite the presence of about 100,000 U.S. and other NATO forces currently in the country.

Making matters more difficult for the Obama administration is the mounting military casualties, declining support for the war both within its own Democratic Party and the public at large, and Afghanistan's election mess arising from a torrent of voter-fraud complaints that threatens to further erode the credibility of President Hamid Karzai's corrupt government.

As Obama and his top officials reviewed the McChrystal report, they also reportedly explored other options not requiring the addition of more troops.

One of the alternatives the president is looking at is the suggestion by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. for cutting back on U.S. forces, while concentrating more on rooting out al-Qaida both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, The New York Times reported.

In his assessment report, McChrystal identified three main insurgent groups in Afghanistan, the chief among them being the Quetta Shura Taliban led by Mullah Omar, operating from the Pakistani city of Quetta.

The Times of London, quoting senior Pakistani officials in New York, reported the United States might seek to extend its unmanned drone attacks into Quetta.

In a weekend report, The New York Times said McChrystal's additional troop request, which has not been made public, could go up to 40,000.

The new developments also come in the midst of debates on setting a timeline for an exit strategy from Afghanistan.

Those who oppose it say withdrawal would only help bring the Taliban back in control and open the way for al-Qaida to re-establish its sanctuaries.

Those who support it say the Taliban already controls much of Afghanistan and that al-Qaida will no longer need Afghanistan as a sanctuary as it already has such havens in Pakistan's tribal regions and in places like Somalia.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking to CNN's "State of the Union," disagreed with setting a timetable for exit from Afghanistan.

"(The) Taliban and al-Qaida, as far as they're concerned, defeated one superpower (the Soviet Union). For them to be seen to defeat a second, I think, would have catastrophic consequences in terms of energizing the extremist movement, al-Qaida recruitment, operations, fundraising, and so on. I think it would be a huge setback for the United States."

On troop additions, the secretary said, "Once we're confident we have the strategy right, then -- then we'll address the question of additional resources."

As for the growing debate on his report, McChrystal welcomes it.

In a telephone interview with The New York Times, he said he had total freedom to put in "a candid assessment" and that the report was not designed to create any rift between the administration and the U.S. military.

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