Republicans said he was taking too long to make up his mind and should boost American troop levels there. Democrats said the president was right to deliberate carefully.

Republicans said Obama must sign off soon on a recommendation from the top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, to substantially increase the number of American troops there by as many as 40,000 or more. Democrats warned against a hasty decision on any increase.

"Clearly, time is of the essence here," said Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the second-ranking Republican. "I'm afraid that, with every passing day, we risk the future success of the mission."

"I think it's taken too long," added Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah). "Why not follow the advice of his hand-picked general?"

Arizona Sen. John McCain said, "Every day we delay will be a delay in this strategy succeeding.

"The deteriorating situation "argues for a rapid decision," he said.

Obama has had McChrystal's recommendation for weeks but has yet to decide whether to act on it even after numerous strategy sessions with senior aides.

The White House has said the president will not be rushed but suggested a decision would be made soon.

None of the Republicans would second a claim made last week by former Vice President Dick Cheney that Obama was "dithering" in making a decision, but they agreed that continued delay would endanger the 68,000 U.S. soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan.

"I would never want to call my president 'dithering,' " Hatch said. He stressed, though, that "they need these troops, there is no question about it."

Distancing himself from Cheney, McCain also said he "wouldn't use that language." But, he added, "The sooner we implement the strategy the more we will able to ensure [U.S. troops'] safety."

Sen. Carl Levin (D., Wis.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, lashed out at Cheney's criticism, made in a speech Wednesday while accepting an award from a conservative national security group.

"I thought that comments of the former vice president were totally out of bounds," Levin said. "I don't think he has any credibility left with the American people, in any event."

Sen. Jim Webb (D., Va.), another member of the Armed Services Committee, also disagreed with Cheney.

"This deliberative process is what we need because we're going to end up living with the results for some time," he said.

Sen. Russ Feingold (D., Wis.) said he opposed any further build-up of American forces.

"It is time to start thinking about bringing troops out of Afghanistan and reducing our commitment there," he said. He pledged to oppose a decision to send more.

Kyl and Levin spoke on Fox News Sunday, Hatch and Webb were on CNN's State of the Union, and Feingold and McCain appeared on CBS's Face the Nation.