Washington (AP) Pentagon leaders are looking for ways to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan this year.

Defense officials are xconceding that insurgents are waging more sophisticated, better planned and coordinated attacks. These officials said Wednesday that sending more troops would have a significant impact on the violence, and that it should be done
sooner rather than later.

Defense secretary Robert Gates said the options do not include breaking the Pentagon's promise that soldiers will not be deployed for more than 12 months at a time.