Obama said in a speech.

After winning back the House in November's midterm elections, Republicans signaled that the president's 2011 deadline would be a target.

"Republican Representative Buck McKeon, who was all but certain to be the new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, signaled that the party would ensure that US forces have the 'time" to achieve their goals," AFP reported.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen said last week that NATO should endorse Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's 2014 timetable for withdrawal.

Last Wednesday, the Obama administration began to de-emphasize the 2011 date.