Senators question US policy, use of troops in Afghanistan

Seek more details before backing increase in forces

September 14, 2009|Matthew Lee, Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Congressional skepticism over the Obama administration’s plans for Afghanistan mounted yesterday as four senators questioned whether more troops should head there and one lawmaker called for a withdrawal timeline.

Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Diane Feinstein of California, and Dick Durbin of Illinois along with Republican Susan M. Collins of Maine said they shared colleagues’ concerns about boosting troop levels before substantial bolstering of the Afghan military and police.

“I just don’t know that more troops is the answer. We clearly need more American civilians to help build up institutions. We need to grow the size of the Afghan Army. But we’re dealing with widespread corruption, a very difficult terrain, and I’m just wondering where this ends and how we’ll know if this succeeded,’’ said Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The committee chairman, Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, has urged the White House to avoid escalating the war and to speed up training for Afghan security forces instead of sending more US troops into combat.

Durbin said he agreed with Levin.

“I think at this point sending additional troops would not be the right thing to do,’’ he said. “At this point we should follow Senator Levin’s suggestion. Let’s get it right on the ground; let the Afghans bring stability to their own country. Let’s work with them to make that happen.’’

Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said she understood Levin’s concerns but stressed that she wanted more information on the administration’s Afghanistan policy from General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and NATO forces there. He recently submitted a broad review of Afghan strategy to President Obama.

“I think we need to get the measurements that Congress has mandated from the White House on how we’re going to determine progress in Afghanistan,’’ she said.

She added that “while I appreciate Senator Levin’s concerns and think they’re very real, I think it’s too soon to be able to make that determination. We need to assess these reports.’’

Feinstein, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, said she supported training the Afghan security forces but did not believe US goals in Afghanistan had been outlined clearly.

“My view is that the mission has to be very clear. I believe it is not now,’’ she said. “I do not believe we can build a democratic state in Afghanistan. I believe it will remain a tribal entity.’’

She called for a specific date for the withdrawal of American forces: