How Speaker Pelosi is Handling Afghanistan Skepticism…

ABC News’ Robin Gradison and Rick Klein report: With Democrats lining up against President Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today provided a window into how she’s managing the skeptics inside her own party.

Pelosi, D-Calif., said in her weekly press conference today that she has invited the secretaries of Defense and State, plus the National Security Advisor, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other top administration officials, to hold a private briefing for members of Congress “hopefully soon.”

While many of these same people testified on both sides of Capitol Hill Wednesday and today, Pelosi said she feels the private briefing is necessary, so House members can “make a judgment about the nature of the threat.”

"I think we have to handle it with care, listen to what they present and then members will make their decision," said Pelosi.

Asked whether she worries that the new Afghanistan policy will alienate the Democratic base, she said she thinks people are much more focused on job creation than they are on Afghanistan.

"The Afghanistan situation is an ongoing discussion in our country, in our Congress and in our party.  But, I do think that meeting, and where I began, meeting the needs of American's families and seeing the progress that they make is what is important to us and to the president.  We'll measure our success in that way."