WOW! what does the Military not get? Isn't the plan for transition and decreasing troop size and mission.... Yeah, we are in a recession, and historically money can be made with conflict and engagement.
FOOLS.
September 16, 2009
Military Chief Says More Troops Needed for Afghan War
By THOM SHANKER
WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, told Congress on Tuesday that success in Afghanistan would probably require more troops, and certainly much more time, a position seconded by a top Republican but challenged by a top Democrat.
The debate, at a morning hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, previewed the intense national debate expected over coming weeks as the White House considers how best to pursue its new strategy in Afghanistan.
The committee chairman, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, insisted that increased efforts to train and equip Afghan security forces should precede any deployment of American troops beyond those already committed by the Obama administration.
But the committee’s ranking Republican, Senator John McCain of Arizona, his party’s most experienced voice on military affairs, countered by declaring that more troops were “vitally needed” in Afghanistan — and that any delay in ordering more combat troops to the fight put lives at risk.
The hearing was called to consider Admiral Mullen’s nomination to serve a second tour as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, but it immediately became an opening public debate about whether more American combat forces should be sent to Afghanistan.
Admiral Mullen said that no specific troop request has yet been received from Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the senior American and NATO commander in Afghanistan.
“But I do believe that — having heard his views and having great confidence in his leadership — a properly resourced counterinsurgency probably means more forces, and, without question, more time and more commitment to the protection of the Afghan people and to the development of good governance,” Admiral Mullen said.
“We will need resources matched to the strategy,” he added.
Admiral Mullen acknowledged the importance of the training effort as advocated by Mr. Levin, but carefully pointed out that such a mission cannot quickly provide sufficient levels of security required by the counterinsurgency strategy.
“I share your view that larger and more capable Afghan National Security forces remain vital to that nation’s viability,” Admiral Mullen said. “I share your view — and have stated publicly — that the path to achieving the president’s goal is through our training efforts there. We must rapidly build the Afghan Army and police.”
But he cautioned that sending more trainers more quickly might provide “a jump start, but only that.”
“Quality training takes time and patience,” Admiral Mullen said. “Private trust by the Afghans — so vital to our purpose — is not fostered in a public hurry.”
Mr. Levin, who met with commanders and troops in Afghanistan during the congressional Labor Day recess, said that focusing on training Afghan Army and police units “would demonstrate our commitment to the success of a mission that is in our national security interest, while avoiding the risks associated with a larger U.S. footprint.”
He said emphatically that “these steps should be urgently implemented before we consider a further increase in U.S. ground combat troops, beyond what is already planned to be deployed by the end of the year.”
Mr. Levin said new goals should be established for Afghan security forces: The Afghan Army, he said, should grow to 250,000 by the end of 2012, and the police to 160,000 by that date. The current target is 134,000 army personnel and 96,000 police by the end of next year.
Although Mr. Levin and Mr. McCain have a cordial working relationship on the committee, they were blunt in expressing completely opposing views on the troop numbers.
Mr. McCain recalled that initial attempts in Iraq to shift the security burden to local forces was a colossal failure. “I’ve seen that movie before,” he said.
He lauded Mr. Obama’s decision earlier this year to send 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. Those extra combat troops, Mr. McCain said, were the correct priority — and he has said that more troops are “even more necessary now.”
Additional combat troops “are vitally needed,” Mr. McCain said, and warned that each day of delay “puts lives in danger.”
“We will need more U.S. combat forces in Afghanistan, not less or the same amount we have today,” Mr. McCain said.
The final brigade of fresh troops ordered to Afghanistan — a group of about 4,000 trainers — is scheduled to land by November, bringing the American troop level there to 68,000.
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