From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The Commander-in-Chief and America's military options.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues. Americans care about most.

President Bush said today, we're not winning in Iraq, but we're not losing, and eventually

we're going to win. He has not decided if that will require a surge of troops in the short run,

but he does want to increase the overall size of the Army and the Marines. On to the point,

the cost and the politics of building ground forces, a major plank in

John Carey's presidential platform two years ago.

Also today, the waiting game in Cuba, where the party line is that Fidel Castro is coming

back.

Is this the right time to relax America's trade embargo?

Are China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela making inroads

with America's neighbor? First, here's the news. Support for To the Point comes from subscribers

of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors

include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Warren-Aldney, back with To the Point. President Bush has held what's likely his last press conference of 2006. We'll get the highlights and talk about his long-term military plans. Also on To the Point, the waiting game in Fidel Castro's Cuba. Should the U.S. relax its embargo or get tougher still? First of this news

update. President Bush said today he wants to increase the size of the Army and the Marines. In the

short room, he has not decided if he wants a surge to increase troops in Iraq. He was asked if he

might overrule top military advisors who reportedly are opposed to the surge idea.

Let me wait and gather all the recommendations from Bob Gates, from our military,

from diplomats on the ground.

...