President Obama told congressional leaders this afternoon that a key message of his speech tonight is that the United States is “on the trajectory of a drawdown” in Afghanistan. Obama opened the meeting with a brief — ten minute — preview of his remarks. He then fielded questions, including some from lawmakers concerned that the White House is setting July 2011 as the beginning of a drawdown. Obama said the withdrawal would be a responsible one, based on conditions on the ground. Obama also told members of Congress that he intends to be very tough with Hamid Karzai, saying of the Afghan leader that he intends to “get in his face.”
