US President Barack Obama's upcoming announcement of a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan poses political risks for his Democratic Party ahead of challenging midterm congressional elections. Obama will reveal the strategy at the West Point military academy, which is expected to involve increasing US troop levels in Afghanistan and potentially outlining an exit plan for the conflict. Republicans are pushing for decisive action from Obama, while many Democrats have concerns, creating a challenging situation for the president as he tries to fulfill his political commitments. Obama is facing a decision on whether to approve General McChrystal's request for up to 40,000 more US troops in Afghanistan, or to follow the advice of more cautious advisers who prefer a smaller deployment of 10,000 to 20,000 additional troops. Influential figures in Obama's Cabinet, including Defense Secretary Gates and military chiefs, support a troop increase of 30,000 or more, which could potentially reach 35,000 when factoring in US trainers. This decision is crucial for the future of the US-led war in Afghanistan, where there are already 68,000 US soldiers and a total of about 110,000 troops fighting against the Taliban. The conflict is part of a broader campaign against al Qaeda and poses risks for neighboring countries like Pakistan and US allies such as Britain. Additionally, the war could impact Obama's domestic agenda, including issues like healthcare and climate change, as politicians and voters evaluate the value of a costly US campaign in a historically challenging region. Opinion polls indicate that Americans are divided on the issue of Afghanistan, with some supporting a large influx of troops while others prefer sending a smaller number. A recent poll by Washington Post-ABC News showed that 48 percent of Americans disapproved of President Obama's handling of the situation in Afghanistan, while 45 percent approved. Approval among independents, who were crucial in Obama's election in 2008, dropped to 39 percent, which is concerning for Democrats. There are doubts about Afghanistan at the same time as Americans are worried about high unemployment, government bailouts, the federal budget deficit, and healthcare reform. This could affect Democrats' majority in Congress in the upcoming 2010 elections. Many liberal Democrats are against further involvement in Afghanistan, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticizing President Karzai and questioning the need for more US aid. Other high-ranking members of the Democratic party have advised Obama to clarify the plan for withdrawing from Afghanistan. General McChrystal, during a briefing with U.S. lawmakers, mentioned that the number of troops could start decreasing after reaching a peak in 2013, and an upcoming international conference in London in January will focus on transitioning security control to Afghan forces. Some experienced Democratic lawmakers have suggested implementing a "war tax" on the wealthiest Americans to fund the war effort, a move that is typically avoided in election years. Democrats are looking to distance themselves from an unpopular war with no clear end in sight and regain credibility as responsible financial managers by curbing rising war expenses. Republicans have used Obama's Afghanistan decision-making process as a chance to emphasize their strong stance on national security and criticize the perceived indecisiveness of the Democratic president. Former Vice President Dick Cheney expressed concern over the length of time Obama took to review the options, stating that the delay is causing uncertainty among allies and troops in the region. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell encouraged Obama to continue pressuring the Taliban, while 14 House Republicans expressed their support for General McChrystal's request for 40,000 additional troops in a letter to Obama. Republicans aim to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the United States and regain support from disillusioned voters in swing districts. Democrats argue that Republicans are attempting to divert attention from the lack of success in defeating the Taliban during the seven years of military operations under former President George W. Bush, who deployed significantly more troops to the war in Iraq.