The United States has begun its internal review of whether President Barack Obama's strategy in Afghanistan is working, and is looking to release at least part of the findings by year-end, an official said Tuesday.

In a conference call with reporters, a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the administration began the review two weeks ago, and data is being gathered to examine the progress of U.S. policies on the ground.

The findings are likely to be released in "second half of December, perhaps into the first weeks of the new year," said the official, and announcements will be made to both the Congress and the public.

Obama ordered the deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan late last year, but the troops made few progress in changing the outlook of the war. Officials have been making optimistic comments about the war, but the review is the first comprehensive look at whether Obama's strategy is working before the scheduled beginning of withdrawal in July, 2011.