"In the coming weeks, President Barack Obama will make the most difficult choice a commander in chief can face: whether to send more troops into harm's way, " wrote Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

CNN: U.S. must win Afghan hearts and minds, commander says

They would also face the difficult choice between seeking an alliance with the younger Mr Kadyrov, wresting control of his militia or forming a new and equally ruthless band of armed enforcers.

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